Chapter 18: The Last Man Holding the Money
By sunrise, First County Bank had frozen every account connected to Whitmore Property Holdings.
Thomas Greene's office was empty.
His company-issued phone had been switched off.
And the security footage showed him leaving the bank shortly before the attempted transfer was flagged.
Martin stood in Mabel's kitchen, speaking with Helen Brooks.
"Do you have a confirmed address?""
Helen answered, "We have his home address and a vacation property registered under his wife's name. Officers are checking both.""
"Has he contacted Laura?""
"We're reviewing his communications.""
Martin glanced at Daniel.
"Can the bank confirm whether he accessed the trust records?""
"Yes," Helen replied.
"He used his administrative credentials to retrieve the account documents three times in the past month.""
Mabel sat quietly.
"Was he helping Laura all along?""
Martin covered the phone.
"We don't know how long. But the evidence suggests he was involved in the attempted transfer.""
Helen continued.
"We also found that Thomas approved two withdrawals from the trust several years ago.""
Martin's expression hardened.
"That is impossible. There were no authorized withdrawals.""
"That's what we're investigating.""
He ended the call.
Dean leaned forward.
"How much did they take?""
Martin opened his folder.
"The records show two transfers totaling $19,600.""
Mabel stared.
"From Arthur's trust?""
"Yes.""
"Can it be recovered?""
"Possibly. The money moved through several accounts, but the bank has frozen the remaining balances.""
Daniel looked angry.
"Laura and Thomas have been stealing from Mom for years.""
Martin nodded.
"And now we have evidence that the theft continued after Arthur's death.""
Mabel looked toward the window.
"I want my money back.""
"You have every right to pursue it," Martin said.
"But I want more than money.""
She looked at him.
"I want the truth.""
At ten-thirty, a police officer called Martin.
Thomas Greene had been located.
He was staying at a hotel outside the city under his own name.
Investigators had found a laptop, several bank documents, and a storage device in his room.
But Thomas refused to speak without an attorney.
Helen Brooks requested that Martin and Mabel come to the prosecutor's office.
Mabel insisted on going.
Daniel accompanied her.
Dean drove them.
Inside the conference room, Helen displayed several documents on a screen.
"Mr. Greene appears to have helped Laura obtain access to accounts she had no legal authority to control.""
She showed a transfer request.
The amount was $120,000.
The request had been made using Mabel's supposed power of attorney.
Mabel stared.
"That's the transfer Martin told me the bank blocked.""
Helen nodded.
"Correct. We now have the employee audit trail.""
She displayed another page.
The approval field contained Thomas's identification number.
Daniel leaned forward.
"So he approved it?""
"He initiated the internal review and attempted to override the fraud warning.""
Martin frowned.
"Was the authorization forged?""
"Yes. Our document examiner has found inconsistencies in the signature.""
Mabel looked at the screen.
The signature resembled her own.
But she had never written it.
Helen continued.
"There's also a second issue. Thomas appears to have provided Laura with copies of your account statements and personal information.""
Mabel felt cold.
"Why?""
"To help her impersonate you during financial transactions.""
Daniel shook his head.
"How did they get away with this?""
Helen looked at him.
"Because they had access to documents, personal information, and trusted positions. They also relied on the assumption that your mother would not challenge the transactions.""
Mabel lowered her eyes.
That assumption had been correct for years.
She had believed Laura was helping her.
Now she understood how easily trust could be turned into a weapon.
An hour later, Thomas Greene agreed to an interview.
Martin and Helen sat across from him.
Mabel watched through the observation room window.
Thomas was in his late fifties, with thinning gray hair and an expensive watch.
He looked irritated rather than frightened.
Helen placed a copy of the attempted transfer on the table.
"Mr. Greene, did you authorize this transaction?""
Thomas glanced at it.
"I don't recall.""
Martin leaned forward.
"Your employee credentials were used.""
"Other people had access to the system.""
"Who?""
"I don't know.""
Helen placed another document before him.
"This is a message recovered from your phone.""
Thomas looked at it.
The message was from Laura.
*The transfer must happen before Reeves files the new trust paperwork.*
Thomas said nothing.
Helen showed him the reply.
*I will handle it. You owe me.*
Martin studied his face.
"What did Laura owe you?""
Thomas rubbed his forehead.
"This is being misunderstood.""
Helen's voice was firm.
"Then explain it.""
Thomas took a breath.
"Laura and I had an arrangement.""
"What arrangement?""
"She paid me for certain banking services.""
"Which services?""
"Nothing illegal.""
Martin placed the forged authorization on the table.
"Then why did you attempt to transfer money using a document that Mabel Whitmore never signed?""
Thomas stared at the paper.
Finally, he said, "Laura told me she had power of attorney.""
"She did not have authority to transfer the protected trust funds.""
"She said the money belonged to her.""
"It did not.""
Thomas looked toward the observation window.
Mabel stood motionless on the other side.
He recognized her.
His expression changed.
"Mrs. Whitmore.""
Helen turned.
"Do you know her?""
Thomas didn't answer.
Mabel entered the room.
Martin stood immediately.
"Mrs. Whitmore, you don't have to participate in this interview.""
"I know.""
She looked directly at Thomas.
"Why did you help my daughter steal from me?""
Thomas shifted in his chair.
"I didn't steal anything.""
"You tried to take my husband's money.""
"Laura told me you were incapable of managing it.""
Mabel's voice remained steady.
"Did you ever speak to me?""
Thomas looked away.
"No.""
"Did you ever ask me what I wanted?""
"No.""
"Then why did you believe her?""
Thomas said nothing.
Mabel took a breath.
"Because she paid you.""
He lowered his eyes.
"Yes.""
Mabel nodded.
"At least that's the truth.""
She turned and left.
Behind her, Helen resumed the interview.
That afternoon, the bank confirmed that the trust funds had been secured.
The $19,600 in disputed withdrawals remained under investigation.
Thomas was placed under arrest on suspicion of financial fraud and conspiracy.
Laura, however, was still missing.
Martin received another update from the police.
Her SUV had been found abandoned near the interstate.
There was no sign of her.
Dean looked at the report.
"She could be anywhere.""
Daniel frowned.
"She wouldn't leave without Emily.""
Michael, standing beside the kitchen table, shook his head.
"She already tried to take her.""
Emily sat quietly with her notebook.
She had been writing letters to Mabel again.
Mabel sat beside her.
"What are you writing, sweetheart?""
Emily closed the notebook.
"A letter to Dad.""
Michael smiled sadly.
"What does it say?""
Emily opened it.
Dear Dad,
I used to think you left because you didn't love me. Now I know Mom lied. I wish I could have had more birthdays with you. But I don't want to spend the rest of my life being angry.
Michael's eyes filled.
He kissed the top of her head.
"Thank you.""
Emily continued.
"I also wrote one for Grandma.""
Mabel smiled.
"Can I read it?""
Emily handed it over.
Dear Grandma,
I'm sorry I didn't find you sooner. I believed what Mom told me. I thought you didn't want me. Now I know you were waiting for me.
Mabel began crying.
Emily hugged her.
"I love you, Grandma.""
"I love you too.""
That evening, Martin received a call from Helen.
He listened for nearly a minute.
Then he looked toward Mabel.
"We found Laura.""
Everyone went quiet.
"Where?"" Daniel asked.
"At a private airport.""
Dean stood.
"Was she trying to leave the country?""
Martin nodded.
"She had a ticket booked under a different name.""
Michael looked toward Emily.
"Did they stop her?""
"Yes. She's being questioned.""
Mabel closed her eyes.
For the first time in years, she felt something other than fear when she heard her daughter's name.
Relief.
But Martin's phone rang again.
He answered.
"Reeves.""
Helen spoke urgently.
"There's a problem.""
Martin's expression changed.
"What problem?""
"Laura has requested immunity in exchange for information.""
Daniel frowned.
"Immunity for what?""
Martin listened.
Then he looked at Mabel.
"She says she has evidence that Patricia Collins was the person who actually administered the medication to Arthur.""
Mabel stood.
"We already know Patricia was involved.""
Martin shook his head.
"She claims Patricia acted alone.""
Dean frowned.
"That's convenient.""
Martin agreed.
"Yes. And Laura has made another claim.""
"What?""
Martin's voice dropped.
"She says Patricia didn't just help her steal the money.""
Mabel gripped the edge of the table.
"Then what did she do?""
Martin looked at her.
"Laura says Patricia was the one who forged Arthur's final will.""
Daniel stared.
"But we recovered the original.""
Martin nodded.
"Exactly.""
He looked toward the front window.
"Which means Laura may be trying to shift every crime onto Patricia before the evidence is examined.""
Mabel's phone suddenly vibrated.
An incoming message appeared from an unknown number.
It contained a photograph of Arthur's grave.
Beneath it were the words:
*Ask your daughter what happened after the funeral.*
Mabel's hands went cold.
A second message arrived.
*The money wasn't the only thing Laura took from you.*
She looked at Martin.
"Who sent this?""
He examined the number.
Then he turned pale.
"Patricia.""
May you like
Before anyone could respond, another message appeared.
*I have the original recording of Arthur's last conversation. And Laura doesn't know I still have it.*
