Chapter 4: The Secret Account
I barely slept that night.
Every time I closed my eyes, I heard Maya's recorded voice.
If you don't give me what I want, I'll tell Mom you touched me.
Then I heard Claire's words.
I think Maya has been using your son's identity.
At 6:30 a.m., I was already downstairs.
The house smelled of fresh coffee, but I couldn't bring myself to drink it.
I opened my laptop and reviewed every financial document I could find.
The education account.
The joint household account.
The credit card statements.
The mortgage.
Everything.
At 7:12, I found something strange.
A credit inquiry.
It had been made under Malik's name.
I clicked it.
The application date was September 14.
The requested credit limit was $15,000.
My son had never told me he applied for a credit card.
I called him downstairs.
He entered the kitchen looking half asleep.
"What's wrong?""
I turned the laptop toward him.
"Did you apply for this?""
He stared at the screen.
"What?""
"A credit card. September fourteenth.""
His expression changed immediately.
"No.""
"Are you sure?""
"Dad, I've never applied for a credit card.""
I studied his face.
He looked genuinely confused.
I opened the application details.
The contact email wasn't his.
It belonged to Maya.
The phone number was hers too.
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Do you know anything about this?""
Malik shook his head.
"No. Why would she use my name?""
I didn't answer.
I called the bank.
After verifying my identity and Malik's consent, we requested the available application information.
The representative placed me on hold.
Ten minutes later, she returned.
"Mr. Bennett, the application was submitted using your son's personal information. However, the contact details listed belong to another individual.""
"Who?""
"I'm sorry, sir. I can't disclose all third-party information without further authorization.""
I glanced at Malik.
"Can you tell us whether the application was approved?""
"It was initially approved, but the account was flagged for additional verification.""
I exhaled.
"Has any money been spent?""
"There's no active balance on the account at this time.""
I thanked her and ended the call.
Malik looked sick.
"She used my information?""
"It appears so.""
"Why?""
I didn't know.
But I intended to find out.
At 8:40, Nia came downstairs.
She had barely slept either.
When she saw the laptop, she frowned.
"What happened?""
I explained.
Her expression turned cold.
"That explains something.""
"What?""
"Two weeks ago, I saw Maya taking pictures of documents in your office.""
I looked up.
"What documents?""
"Your tax folder. The one with everyone's information.""
My chest tightened.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"I thought she was helping Claire.""
I closed the laptop.
"Nobody touches any more documents in this house.""
At that moment, Claire entered the kitchen.
She looked tired.
Her hair was unbrushed, and she had dark circles beneath her eyes.
"Good morning.""
Nobody answered.
She glanced at the laptop.
"What's going on?""
I turned toward her.
"Did you know Maya applied for a credit card using Malik's information?""
Claire froze.
Only for a second.
But I saw it.
"That's impossible.""
"Why?""
"Because she wouldn't do that.""
Malik laughed bitterly.
"You said the same thing yesterday.""
Claire turned toward him.
"Don't start.""
"I'm not starting anything. I'm asking why you keep defending her without asking questions.""
"She's my daughter!""
"And I'm his father," I said.
Claire looked at me.
"Marcus, can we talk privately?""
"No.""
She pressed her lips together.
Then she placed a folder on the kitchen island.
"I was going to show you this.""
I opened it.
Inside were several printed emails.
The first was a message from a financial institution requesting verification of Malik's identity.
The second was an email from an online payment platform.
The third was a notice about an unpaid balance.
I read the names carefully.
There were several transactions.
Some were small.
Others were over a thousand dollars.
The total was more than eleven thousand.
"Where did you get these?"" I asked.
Claire folded her arms.
"Maya gave them to me.""
"Why?""
"Because she was trying to fix things.""
I looked up.
"How long have you known?""
She hesitated.
"About a month.""
Malik slammed his hand against the counter.
"A MONTH?""
Claire flinched.
"Don't shout at me.""
"You knew someone was using my identity, and you said nothing?""
"I was trying to protect her.""
"From what?""
Claire looked at him.
"From making a mistake that could follow her for the rest of her life.""
I stared at her.
"By letting her continue?""
She looked down.
"I thought I could repay the money before anyone found out.""
My voice dropped.
"With Malik's education savings?""
Claire began crying.
"I didn't know what else to do.""
Nia shook her head.
"Mom, you stole from him.""
"I borrowed it!""
"You didn't ask.""
"I was going to replace it!""
Malik's voice trembled.
"You let me believe my college money was safe.""
Claire looked at him.
"Malik, I never wanted to hurt you.""
He laughed through his tears.
"Then why did you let Maya accuse me?""
Claire had no answer.
I closed the folder.
"Where is Maya?""
"Upstairs.""
"Get her.""
Claire shook her head.
"She's sleeping.""
"Wake her up.""
"Marcus, please.""
"Now.""
Claire went upstairs.
A few minutes later, I heard footsteps.
Maya appeared in the doorway wearing an oversized sweatshirt.
Her hair was messy.
She looked at all three of us.
Then she saw the folder.
Her face changed.
"Mom?""
Claire stood behind her.
"Tell them what happened.""
Maya looked at me.
"What?""
"Did you use Malik's identity to apply for credit?""
"No.""
I held up the application.
"Your email address is on it.""
She crossed her arms.
"I didn't know what I was doing.""
"Did you make the application?""
She looked at Claire.
Then at Malik.
"Yes.""
Malik shook his head.
"Why?""
Maya's eyes filled.
"Because I needed money.""
"For what?""
She looked away.
"Things.""
"What things?""
"That's none of your business!""
I stood.
"It became my business when you used another person's identity.""
Maya's voice rose.
"You don't understand!""
"Then explain.""
She looked at Claire.
Her mother stepped forward.
"Sweetheart, tell the truth.""
Maya began crying.
"I needed to pay someone back.""
"Who?""
She shook her head.
"I can't.""
"Why not?""
"Because he'll hurt me.""
The room went silent.
I looked at Claire.
"Who is she talking about?""
Claire covered her mouth.
Then Maya whispered something that made all of us freeze.
"His name is Ethan.""
I frowned.
"Who is Ethan?""
Maya's tears rolled down her cheeks.
"The guy I've been seeing.""
Malik stared at her.
"You've been seeing someone?""
She ignored him.
"He said he could make money for us. He told me it was easy.""
"How much do you owe him?"" I asked.
She looked at the floor.
"More than twenty thousand.""
I felt a chill move through my body.
"How much more?""
Maya closed her eyes.
"Forty-three thousand.""
Nia gasped.
I stared at my stepdaughter.
Forty-three thousand dollars.
Twenty-eight thousand missing from Malik's account.
More than eleven thousand in suspicious transactions.
And now a man named Ethan.
I took a slow breath.
"How did you meet him?""
Maya didn't answer.
Claire reached for her daughter's hand.
"Marcus, we need to be careful.""
I turned toward her.
"Why?""
She looked terrified.
Then she whispered:
"Because Ethan isn't just some boy Maya met online.""
May you like
She glanced toward the front windows.
"He's been inside this house.""
