Chapter 6: The Account Nobody Told Me About
The following morning, I sat in a conference room at Rachel's recommended law office.
Across the table sat an attorney named Michael Grant.
He was in his early fifties, wore thin-framed glasses, and had the kind of calm expression that made people speak more carefully.
He had reviewed the divorce filing, the property transfer agreement, and the hotel receipts.
Now he was examining the flash drive.
"Before we open this," he said, "I want to make something clear. We need to know exactly where these files came from and whether anyone had permission to access them.""
Jordan, who had come with us, nodded.
"I didn't copy anything from Laura's computer.""
Michael looked at him.
"How did you get the drive?""
"My mom gave it to me. She told me to put it somewhere safe.""
"Did you open it?""
"No.""
"Good.""
Michael connected it to a separate computer.
The screen filled with folders.
There were spreadsheets, scanned documents, and several PDF files.
One folder was named PROPERTY.
Another was labeled TRANSFERS.
Michael opened the first spreadsheet.
I recognized the names of our rental properties.
Then I saw numbers.
Large numbers.
"What's that?"" I asked.
Michael enlarged the screen.
"These appear to be transfers from your business operating account to another company.""
"Which company?""
He clicked the name.
*Northbridge Property Holdings LLC.*
I frowned.
"I've never heard of that company.""
Rachel leaned forward.
"Who owns it?""
Michael opened another document.
The registered owner was Tasha.
I felt my stomach twist.
"How much money?""
Michael scrolled through the spreadsheet.
"Based on these entries, approximately $186,000 over eleven months.""
My mouth went dry.
"That's impossible.""
"These are preliminary records," he said.
"We'll need the bank statements to verify them.""
I stared at the screen.
One hundred eighty-six thousand dollars.
Money that should have gone toward contractors, mortgage payments, taxes, and the future we had supposedly been building together.
"Did Daniel transfer it?""
Michael opened another file.
A list of transactions appeared.
Most had been approved using Daniel's business credentials.
But several had my electronic authorization attached.
I leaned closer.
"Those aren't mine.""
Michael looked at me.
"Are you certain?""
"I never authorized those payments.""
He made a note.
"Then we'll need to examine the access logs.""
Rachel pointed at another folder.
"What's this one?""
Michael opened it.
The folder contained photographs of documents.
One showed a bank account application.
Another showed a property valuation.
Then a third document appeared.
It was an insurance policy.
My father's name was listed.
I stopped breathing.
"My father died four years ago.""
Michael looked at the page.
"Was he a beneficiary on any of your properties?""
"No. He helped me buy my first house, but everything was settled before he passed away.""
Rachel examined the document.
"Laura, look at the date.""
It had been created eight months earlier.
The document claimed that my father had guaranteed a private loan using the family property as collateral.
But my father had been dead for years.
And his signature appeared at the bottom.
I covered my mouth.
"They forged his signature, too.""
Michael didn't answer immediately.
He opened the final document.
A private loan agreement.
The lender was a company called Westlake Capital.
The borrower was Northbridge Property Holdings.
The collateral listed several properties owned by my business.
Including the house my father had helped me purchase.
I stared at the screen.
"How could they use my father's name?""
Michael closed the document.
"That's something investigators will need to establish. But this may involve more than one fraudulent transaction.""
I felt dizzy.
Rachel reached for my hand.
"Laura, breathe.""
I did.
Slowly.
Michael continued.
"There's something else. Your husband appears to have submitted a request to refinance several properties. The application is scheduled for review in five business days.""
"Can he do that without me?""
"Not if your ownership and authorization are required. But we need to act quickly.""
I looked at the date.
Five business days.
The same week as the divorce hearing.
Everything was connected.
Daniel wasn't simply preparing to leave me.
He was preparing to leave with the money.
Michael closed his laptop.
"We'll send preservation notices and contact the relevant financial institutions. We'll also challenge the filings and seek appropriate temporary protections.""
I nodded.
"What about Maya?""
"Your daughter's safety comes first. Keep a record of anything that concerns her, and don't let either adult pressure her into discussing this privately.""
I thought about the frosting.
The chair.
The way Maya had apologized for making a mess.
I felt anger rise again.
Michael gave me his card.
"If Daniel contacts you about signing anything, don't agree. Send it to me.""
We left the office just before noon.
Jordan walked beside me toward the parking lot.
He had been unusually quiet.
"Are you okay?"" I asked.
He shrugged.
"Not really.""
I stopped.
"Do you want to talk?""
He kicked a small stone.
"Is my mom going to prison?""
I crouched slightly so I could meet his eyes.
"I don't know what will happen. That's for the adults and the authorities to figure out.""
"She'll hate me.""
I looked at him.
"Jordan, telling the truth doesn't make you responsible for what someone else did.""
He nodded, but his expression remained troubled.
Then he asked something I hadn't expected.
"Can I stay with you for a while?""
My heart tightened.
"Of course, sweetheart. We'll talk to the right people and make sure everything is handled properly.""
He looked relieved.
My phone rang.
An unfamiliar number.
I answered.
"Hello?""
"Mrs. Bennett?""
"Yes.""
"My name is Officer Reynolds. I'm calling regarding a report filed this morning.""
My stomach tightened.
"What report?""
"Your husband has reported that you removed company property without authorization and may have taken financial documents belonging to him.""
I stared at the phone.
"What?""
"He's also claiming that you have been making threats against his business interests.""
Rachel, who was standing beside me, immediately held out her hand for the phone.
I put it on speaker.
"Officer, this is attorney Rachel Miller. Can you tell us what evidence was submitted?""
There was a pause.
"Mr. Bennett provided a statement and several screenshots.""
"From whom?"" Rachel asked.
"His sister-in-law, Ms. Tasha Bennett.""
I closed my eyes.
Of course.
She had been preparing her own version of events.
But the officer wasn't finished.
"There's another matter. Mr. Bennett has also requested a welfare check involving your daughter.""
My blood ran cold.
"Why?""
"He claims your daughter may be in an unsafe environment.""
Rachel's face hardened.
"That's a serious allegation. Has he provided evidence?""
"That's part of what we're reviewing.""
I looked at Jordan.
He was staring at the ground.
Then he whispered:
"Mom told me she was going to do that.""
I turned toward him.
"What?""
Jordan looked up.
"She said if you found out about the money, she'd make sure everyone thought you were a bad mother.""
My phone vibrated.
A new email had arrived.
The sender was Daniel.
The subject line contained only four words.
*You should see this, Laura.*
I opened the attachment.
It was a photograph of a document bearing my signature.
A statement claiming that I had voluntarily agreed to give Daniel temporary custody of Maya.
At the bottom was a date.
Three weeks earlier.
And beneath the signature was a handwritten note.
Witnessed by Tasha Bennett.
I stared at the screen.
Then Jordan grabbed my sleeve.
"Laura, that's not the worst one.""
I looked at him.
"What do you mean?""
His face had gone pale.
"Mom has another document. She said if you ever fought back, she'd show everyone the video.""
"What video?""
Jordan swallowed.
"The one she recorded when Maya was crying in the kitchen.""
My entire body went cold.
Because suddenly, I understood.
Tasha hadn't just pushed my daughter.
May you like
She had been preparing to use that moment against me.
And I had no idea what else she had recorded.
