Chapter 7: The Account Jordan Thought Nobody Would Find
Jordan## Chapter 7: The Account Jordan Thought Nobody Would Find
Jordan didn't answer his phone.
It rang six times before stopping didn't answer his phone.
It rang six times before stopping, then began again.
Dad stood at the foot of the staircase, reading the, then began again.
Dad stood at the foot of the staircase, reading the anonymous message while I watched the light beneath Jordan's bedroom door.
“Do you think he knows something?”” I asked.
Dad slipped his phone into his pocket.
“I think we anonymous message while I watched the light beneath Jordan's bedroom door.
“Do you think he knows something?”” I asked.
Dad slipped his phone into his pocket.
“I think we need to ask him.””
He climbed the stairs and knocked.
“Jordan, open the door.””
“I'm busy!””
“Open it.””
There was a thud inside the room, followed by hurried footsteps. The door opened a few inches.
Jordan wore a gray T need to ask him.””
He climbed the stairs and knocked.
“Jordan, open the door.””
“I'm busy!””
“Open it.””
There was a thud inside the room, followed by hurried footsteps. The door opened a few inches.
Jordan wore a gray T-shirt and sweatpants. His eyes moved between Dad and me.
“What?””
“Come downstairs. We need to talk.””
“About what?””
“Your finances.””
Jordan immediately tried to close the door.
Dad caught it with his hand.
“Now, Jordan.””
For once,-shirt and sweatpants. His eyes moved between Dad and me.
“What?””
“Come downstairs. We need to talk.””
“About what?””
“Your finances.””
Jordan immediately tried to close the door.
Dad caught it with his hand.
“Now, Jordan.””
For once, there was no argument.
Jordan followed us into the kitchen, where Dad placed the anonymous message on the table.
“Did you open a bank account last month?””
Jordan glanced at the there was no argument.
Jordan followed us into the kitchen, where Dad placed the anonymous message on the table.
“Did you open a bank account last month?””
Jordan glanced at the screen.
His face changed so quickly that he might as well have answered aloud.
“No.””
Dad didn't react.
“Are you certain?””
“Yes.””
“Then you won't mind explaining why someone sent me this.””
Jordan picked up the phone and read the message again screen.
His face changed so quickly that he might as well have answered aloud.
“No.””
Dad didn't react.
“Are you certain?””
“Yes.””
“Then you won't mind explaining why someone sent me this.””
Jordan picked up the phone and read the message again.
“I don't know who sent it.””
“That wasn't my question.””
Jordan shoved the phone back across the table.
“Maybe it's one of Maya's friends. She has people helping her spy on everyone now.””
I stared at him.
“I didn't send.
“I don't know who sent it.””
“That wasn't my question.””
Jordan shoved the phone back across the table.
“Maybe it's one of Maya's friends. She has people helping her spy on everyone now.””
I stared at him.
“I didn't send that message.””
“You've been digging through everything!””
“Because money is missing from my college account!””
“Enough,” Dad said.
Jordan fell silent.
Dad pulled out a chair.
“Sit down.””
Jordan sat.
“I'm going to ask you a few questions. I expect that message.””
“You've been digging through everything!””
“Because money is missing from my college account!””
“Enough,” Dad said.
Jordan fell silent.
Dad pulled out a chair.
“Sit down.””
Jordan sat.
“I'm going to ask you a few questions. I expect honest answers. Did Denise give you money to pay off your debts?””
Jordan stared at the tabletop.
“Some.””
“How much?””
“I don't know exactly.””
“Estimate.””
He rubbed his palms against honest answers. Did Denise give you money to pay off your debts?””
Jordan stared at the tabletop.
“Some.””
“How much?””
“I don't know exactly.””
“Estimate.””
He rubbed his palms against his sweatpants.
“Maybe twenty thousand.””
My mouth fell open.
“Twenty thousand dollars?””
Jordan glared at me.
“Don't act so shocked. You don't know what it's like trying to get your life together.””
“I worked after school for two his sweatpants.
“Maybe twenty thousand.””
My mouth fell open.
“Twenty thousand dollars?””
Jordan glared at me.
“Don't act so shocked. You don't know what it's like trying to get your life together.””
“I worked after school for two years to save enough for college textbooks.””
“And I made mistakes!””
Dad lifted his hand.
“Jordan, where did the money come from?””
Jordan's shoulders slumped.
“Mom said she was handling some investments. She told me not to worry.””
“What years to save enough for college textbooks.””
“And I made mistakes!””
Dad lifted his hand.
“Jordan, where did the money come from?””
Jordan's shoulders slumped.
“Mom said she was handling some investments. She told me not to worry.””
“What investments?””
“She wouldn't explain.””
“Did she transfer money into an account under your name?””
Jordan looked toward the hallway.
Then he nodded.
Dad closed his eyes briefly.
“When?””
“Last month.””
“How much?””
“Ten thousand dollars investments?””
“She wouldn't explain.””
“Did she transfer money into an account under your name?””
Jordan looked toward the hallway.
Then he nodded.
Dad closed his eyes briefly.
“When?””
“Last month.””
“How much?””
“Ten thousand dollars.””
The kitchen seemed to tilt.
I gripped the edge of the table.
“Ten thousand dollars went into your account last month?””
Jordan snapped, “I didn't ask for your money!””
“I didn't say you did!””
“You're looking at me like I'm a.””
The kitchen seemed to tilt.
I gripped the edge of the table.
“Ten thousand dollars went into your account last month?””
Jordan snapped, “I didn't ask for your money!””
“I didn't say you did!””
“You're looking at me like I'm a criminal!””
“I'm looking at you like someone who might know where my college savings went.””
He stood abruptly.
“I'm done with this.””
Dad remained seated.
“If you leave this room without answering, Daniel will contact you through criminal!””
“I'm looking at you like someone who might know where my college savings went.””
He stood abruptly.
“I'm done with this.””
Dad remained seated.
“If you leave this room without answering, Daniel will contact you through the proper channels. I would prefer we resolve this as a family.””
Jordan stared at him.
For the first time, I saw genuine fear the proper channels. I would prefer we resolve this as a family.””
Jordan stared at him.
For the first time, I saw genuine fear beneath his anger.
He sat down again.
“Mom said the money was from a property investment,” he muttered.
“She said it was an advance against something she was selling.””
“The lake house?”” I asked.
He looked at me.
“I don't know.””
“Did she tell you the house belonged to her?””
“She said she'd been beneath his anger.
He sat down again.
“Mom said the money was from a property investment,” he muttered.
“She said it was an advance against something she was selling.””
“The lake house?”” I asked.
He looked at me.
“I don't know.””
“Did she tell you the house belonged to her?””
“She said she'd been helping manage it.””
Dad leaned forward.
“Did you receive any documents?””
Jordan hesitated.
Then he pulled his phone from his pocket.
“I got helping manage it.””
Dad leaned forward.
“Did you receive any documents?””
Jordan hesitated.
Then he pulled his phone from his pocket.
“I got an email from a loan company. I thought it was spam, so I ignored it.””
He opened his inbox and scrolled.
A few an email from a loan company. I thought it was spam, so I ignored it.””
He opened his inbox and scrolled.
A few seconds later, he turned the phone toward Dad.
The email contained a request to verify the source of a recent deposit.
The amount was $10,000.
The sender was a financial services company, and the reference line included the name of Denise's consulting business.
Dad took a seconds later, he turned the phone toward Dad.
The email contained a request to verify the source of a recent deposit.
The amount was $10,000.
The sender was a financial services company, and the reference line included the name of Denise's consulting business.
Dad took a screenshot.
“Forward this to Daniel.””
Jordan obeyed.
Then he looked at me.
“I didn't know it was your money.””
I wanted to believe him.
But I remembered the gold watch, the car, the way he'd laughed while I held screenshot.
“Forward this to Daniel.””
Jordan obeyed.
Then he looked at me.
“I didn't know it was your money.””
I wanted to believe him.
But I remembered the gold watch, the car, the way he'd laughed while I held a bus pass in my hand.
“You knew Mom was giving you money she couldn't explain,” I said.
“You didn't ask where it came from because you didn't want to know.””
His face reddened.
“You think I wanted this? I didn't ask a bus pass in my hand.
“You knew Mom was giving you money she couldn't explain,” I said.
“You didn't ask where it came from because you didn't want to know.””
His face reddened.
“You think I wanted this? I didn't ask to be the screwup in this family!””
“No one called you that.””
“You didn't have to. Dad talks about you like you're the future of the family. Every conversation is about your grades, your scholarships, your college. to be the screwup in this family!””
“No one called you that.””
“You didn't have to. Dad talks about you like you're the future of the family. Every conversation is about your grades, your scholarships, your college. What am I supposed to do with that?””
I stared at him.
“Maybe start by getting a job.””
Jordan flinched.
Dad intervened before the argument could grow.
What am I supposed to do with that?””
I stared at him.
“Maybe start by getting a job.””
Jordan flinched.
Dad intervened before the argument could grow.
“Both of you, stop. This isn't about comparing your lives. It's about finding out what happened to the money.””
Jordan pushed his phone toward Dad.
“There's something else.””
He opened another email.
This one was dated four weeks earlier.
It contained a PDF attachment labeled Personal Guarantee and Indemnity.
Jordan scrolled through it,“Both of you, stop. This isn't about comparing your lives. It's about finding out what happened to the money.””
Jordan pushed his phone toward Dad.
“There's something else.””
He opened another email.
This one was dated four weeks earlier.
It contained a PDF attachment labeled Personal Guarantee and Indemnity.
Jordan scrolled through it, his fingers trembling.
“Mom told me it was just an application so she could get me a car loan. She said I needed to sign it to prove I was financially responsible his fingers trembling.
“Mom told me it was just an application so she could get me a car loan. She said I needed to sign it to prove I was financially responsible.””
Dad's face hardened.
“Did you sign it?””
“Yeah.””
“Did you read it?””
Jordan looked away.
“Not all of it.””
Dad opened the document.
The first page listed.””
Dad's face hardened.
“Did you sign it?””
“Yeah.””
“Did you read it?””
Jordan looked away.
“Not all of it.””
Dad opened the document.
The first page listed Jordan as a guarantor for a business credit facility.
The borrower was D. Hartwell Consulting LLC.
The maximum liability was $75,000.
Jordan stared at the screen.
“What does that mean?””
“It means,” Dad said carefully, “that you may have accepted legal responsibility for a loan if the Jordan as a guarantor for a business credit facility.
The borrower was D. Hartwell Consulting LLC.
The maximum liability was $75,000.
Jordan stared at the screen.
“What does that mean?””
“It means,” Dad said carefully, “that you may have accepted legal responsibility for a loan if the borrower fails to repay it. Daniel needs to review the complete agreement and determine whether it was validly executed.””
Jordan's face went gray.
“Mom said it was just for the car.””
Dad continued scrolling.
Then he stopped.
There was a signature borrower fails to repay it. Daniel needs to review the complete agreement and determine whether it was validly executed.””
Jordan's face went gray.
“Mom said it was just for the car.””
Dad continued scrolling.
Then he stopped.
There was a signature at the bottom of the final page.
Jordan Hartwell.
Beside it was another signature.
Denise Hartwell.
But the date was wrong.
The document was dated the day after Jordan had told Dad he'd stopped attending college.
Jordan leaned forward.
“That's not at the bottom of the final page.
Jordan Hartwell.
Beside it was another signature.
Denise Hartwell.
But the date was wrong.
The document was dated the day after Jordan had told Dad he'd stopped attending college.
Jordan leaned forward.
“That's not when I signed it.””
Dad looked at him.
“Are you certain?””
“I signed it on Mom's laptop. She said it was for a car loan. I didn't sign it that day.””
Dad took a photograph of the document.
“Don't delete anything. Don't contact the lender. Daniel will advise you on when I signed it.””
Dad looked at him.
“Are you certain?””
“I signed it on Mom's laptop. She said it was for a car loan. I didn't sign it that day.””
Dad took a photograph of the document.
“Don't delete anything. Don't contact the lender. Daniel will advise you on the next steps.””
Jordan rubbed both hands over his face.
“Oh, my God.””
For a few seconds, he looked less like the boy who had taken my car and more like someone who had just realized that an adult he trusted might have used him.
the next steps.””
Jordan rubbed both hands over his face.
“Oh, my God.””
For a few seconds, he looked less like the boy who had taken my car and more like someone who had just realized that an adult he trusted might have used him.
I knew that feeling.
It didn't make me forgive him.
But it made me understand him.
Dad stood.
“I need to speak with Daniel. Maya, come with me.””
As we reached the hallway, Jordan called after us.
“Dad?””
We turned.
He stared at the floor.
I knew that feeling.
It didn't make me forgive him.
But it made me understand him.
Dad stood.
“I need to speak with Daniel. Maya, come with me.””
As we reached the hallway, Jordan called after us.
“Dad?””
We turned.
He stared at the floor.
“Do you think Mom actually stole the money?””
Dad didn't answer immediately.
“I think we have enough evidence to take this seriously. The investigation will tell us what happened.””
Jordan nodded, but his eyes were wet.
I followed Dad upstairs to collect the original trust“Do you think Mom actually stole the money?””
Dad didn't answer immediately.
“I think we have enough evidence to take this seriously. The investigation will tell us what happened.””
Jordan nodded, but his eyes were wet.
I followed Dad upstairs to collect the original trust documents.
My mother's letter lay on the bed where I'd left it.
I slipped it into the envelope and placed it inside my desk drawer.
When documents.
My mother's letter lay on the bed where I'd left it.
I slipped it into the envelope and placed it inside my desk drawer.
When I turned around, Dad was standing by the window.
“Are you okay?”” I asked.
He shook his head.
“No. But I'll be better when I understand the truth.””
I stepped beside him.
“Do you regret marrying her?””
He looked at me, I turned around, Dad was standing by the window.
“Are you okay?”” I asked.
He shook his head.
“No. But I'll be better when I understand the truth.””
I stepped beside him.
“Do you regret marrying her?””
He looked at me, startled.
“That's a difficult question.””
“I know.””
He gazed out at the driveway.
“I regret the times I ignored warning signs because I wanted to believe everything was fine. I regret asking you to be patient when I should have asked what was startled.
“That's a difficult question.””
“I know.””
He gazed out at the driveway.
“I regret the times I ignored warning signs because I wanted to believe everything was fine. I regret asking you to be patient when I should have asked what was happening. But I won't pretend the years before this were all lies.””
I nodded slowly.
“I don't know how to feel about her happening. But I won't pretend the years before this were all lies.””
I nodded slowly.
“I don't know how to feel about her anymore.””
“You don't have to decide today.””
For the first time since the argument began, I felt as though someone had given me permission not to have an answer.
Then Dad's phone rang.
Daniel.
Dad answered and listened anymore.””
“You don't have to decide today.””
For the first time since the argument began, I felt as though someone had given me permission not to have an answer.
Then Dad's phone rang.
Daniel.
Dad answered and listened.
His expression grew more serious with every passing second.
Finally, he said, “Send me the documents.””
He ended the call and looked at me.
“What happened.
His expression grew more serious with every passing second.
Finally, he said, “Send me the documents.””
He ended the call and looked at me.
“What happened?””
“The title search found something else.””
“What?””
Dad took a breath.
“The property records show a pending application to place a lien against your mother's house.””
I felt cold.
“By Denise's company?””
“Yes.””
“Can she?””
“The title search found something else.””
“What?””
Dad took a breath.
“The property records show a pending application to place a lien against your mother's house.””
I felt cold.
“By Denise's company?””
“Yes.””
“Can she do that?””
“Not lawfully without the necessary authority. But someone submitted documents claiming the company had a valid interest in the property.””
He looked down at his phone.
“Daniel has also found a document that may explain do that?””
“Not lawfully without the necessary authority. But someone submitted documents claiming the company had a valid interest in the property.””
He looked down at his phone.
“Daniel has also found a document that may explain why.””
“What document?””
Dad turned the screen toward me.
It was a scanned copy of an agreement.
At the top was my name.
Maya Elena Bennett.
Beneath it was a signature that looked almost exactly like mine.
The agreement why.””
“What document?””
Dad turned the screen toward me.
It was a scanned copy of an agreement.
At the top was my name.
Maya Elena Bennett.
Beneath it was a signature that looked almost exactly like mine.
The agreement claimed that I had consented to the use of the property as collateral.
And the date beneath my signature was the day I had turned sixteen.
I stared at it, unable to speak.
I'd never seen the document before.
I'd never signed away any claimed that I had consented to the use of the property as collateral.
And the date beneath my signature was the day I had turned sixteen.
I stared at it, unable to speak.
I'd never seen the document before.
I'd never signed away any rights to my mother's house.
May you like
But someone had created a paper trail suggesting that I had.
And if that document was accepted as genuine, the person responsible might be able to take the one thing my mother had left me.
