Chapter 5: The Money She Stole
Officer Reynolds asked everyone to sit in the living room.
Monica refused.
“I haven't done anything wrong,” she said, standing beside the sofa.
“This is a family matter.””
The officer opened a small notebook.
“Mrs. Carter, a complaint has been filed concerning unauthorized withdrawals from an elderly woman's bank account.””
Monica looked at Jason.
“Your mother is doing this?””
Jason didn't answer.
“It's ridiculous,” she continued.
“I handled her finances because she asked me to.””
“Did she authorize a withdrawal of forty-two thousand dollars?”” Officer Reynolds asked.
“Yes.””
“When?””
Monica hesitated.
“I don't remember the exact date.””
“Did she sign the withdrawal authorization?””
“Of course.””
Jason stepped forward.
“Show him the document.””
Monica turned sharply.
“Jason, don't.””
“Show him.””
Officer Reynolds looked between them.
“Mrs. Carter, do you have a copy?””
“No. The bank has it.””
The officer made a note.
“That's fine. We'll request it through the appropriate process.””
Monica suddenly changed her tone.
“Officer, my mother-in-law is confused. She's been experiencing memory problems for months. That's why I was helping her.””
Jason felt his stomach tighten.
“Stop saying that.””
“I'm telling him the truth!””
“No, you're repeating the lie you've been telling the neighbors.””
Monica glared at him.
“You weren't here!””
“I should have been.””
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Sophie appeared at the top of the staircase.
“Daddy?””
Jason turned.
“Sweetheart, go back to your room.””
“I have something.””
Monica immediately stepped toward her.
“Sophie, not now.””
But the little girl held up a tablet.
“I found Grandma's messages.””
Monica froze.
Jason walked toward the stairs.
“What messages?””
“The ones Mommy sent to Uncle Daniel.””
Monica rushed forward.
“Give me that!””
Sophie backed away.
Jason moved between them.
“Don't touch her.””
Monica stopped.
Her face twisted with anger.
“She's nine years old. She doesn't understand what she's looking at!””
“Then let's look together.””
Sophie came downstairs and handed Jason the tablet.
The messaging application was open.
There were dozens of conversations between Monica and Daniel.
Jason scrolled.
At first, the messages were about money.
Daniel had promised an investment return.
Monica had complained about overdue bills.
Then the conversation changed.
*Daniel:* Mom still refusing to sign?
*Monica:* She says she wants Jason to review everything first.
*Daniel:* Then don't let him see the papers.
*Monica:* He'll notice eventually.
*Daniel:* Not if we get her placed before the assessment. Once she's declared incapable, we can handle the property.
Jason felt his throat tighten.
He scrolled further.
*Monica:* What if Evelyn tells Jason about the money?
*Daniel:* She won't. You told everyone she's forgetful. If she complains, they'll assume she's confused.
Jason looked up.
Monica's face had gone white.
Officer Reynolds stepped closer.
“May I see that?””
Jason handed him the tablet.
The officer read several messages.
“Mrs. Carter, I'm going to need you to explain these communications.””
Monica shook her head.
“They're taken out of context.””
“Which part?””
“All of it!””
Jason pointed at the screen.
“Did you or did you not discuss having my mother declared incapable?””
“I was trying to protect her!””
“From what? Her own son?””
Monica's voice rose.
“From losing everything because she's too stubborn to accept help!””
Jason looked at the messages again.
Then he noticed a photograph attached to one conversation.
It showed a medical form with Evelyn's name and signature.
The date was from two months earlier.
Jason enlarged it.
There was a doctor's name at the bottom.
Dr. Samuel Price.
“Who is this doctor?”” Jason asked.
Monica looked away.
Officer Reynolds noticed.
“Do you know him?””
Monica shook her head too quickly.
“No.””
Jason stared at her.
“You submitted medical paperwork using my mother's name, and you don't know the doctor?””
“I told you, I don't know!””
Sophie spoke quietly.
“Mommy took Grandma to see him.””
Everyone turned.
Monica snapped.
“Sophie!””
The little girl began to cry.
“Grandma didn't know why we were going. Mommy said it was just a checkup.””
Jason knelt beside his daughter.
“Did Grandma sign anything?””
Sophie nodded.
“She signed a paper Mommy gave her in the car. But Mommy covered the top with her hand.””
Jason closed his eyes.
Officer Reynolds wrote something down.
“Mrs. Carter, I think we need to arrange a formal interview.””
Monica grabbed her purse.
“I'm not going anywhere.””
“I'm not asking you to leave with me right now. But I strongly recommend that you cooperate.””
She looked at Jason.
“Tell him this is a misunderstanding.””
Jason said nothing.
Her expression shifted from anger to desperation.
“Jason, please. We've been married for twelve years.””
He looked at the woman he'd once trusted with everything.
“That's why I can't believe you did this.””
After the officer left, Monica tried to approach him.
Jason stepped away.
“Don't.””
“You're making a mistake.””
“No. I made a mistake when I ignored every warning.””
She wiped her cheeks.
“What happens now?””
“I'm calling Margaret.””
Monica's eyes narrowed.
“You're going to destroy this family over your mother?””
Jason looked toward the staircase.
Sophie was still standing there, holding the railing.
“No,” he said quietly.
“You did that when you taught our daughter to be afraid of telling the truth.””
He walked upstairs and sat beside Sophie.
“I'm proud of you.””
She leaned against his shoulder.
“Is Grandma going to be okay?””
Jason kissed the top of her head.
“I'm going to make sure she is.””
His phone rang.
It was Margaret.
“Jason, I received the bank's preliminary records.””
“What did you find?””
“Your mother's money wasn't transferred to Daniel's investment company.””
“Then where did it go?””
Margaret paused.
“It went to a mortgage lender.””
Jason frowned.
“Whose mortgage?””
“Daniel's.””
Then she added something that made his blood run cold.
“There's another withdrawal. Two hundred thousand dollars. And it was made from an account your father established before he died.””
Jason gripped the phone.
May you like
“What account?””
“The account that was supposed to fund Sophie's education.””
Related Stories
