Chapter 9: My Stepsister's Perfect## Chapter 9: My Stepsister's Perfect Life Was Bought With My Life Was Bought With My Future
For three seconds, I thought Dad had misunderstood the bank.
" Future
For three seconds, I thought Dad had misunderstood the bank.
"Kayla?"" I repeated.
He nodded, his face hardening.
"Sixty-eight thousand dollars was transferred into an account registered in her name.""
I stared at him.
"She knewKayla?"" I repeated.
He nodded, his face hardening.
"Sixty-eight thousand dollars was transferred into an account registered in her name.""
I stared at him.
"She knew?""
"I don't know yet.""
"But she has a ninety-six-thousand-dollar SUV sitting in our driveway!""
"I know, sweetheart.""
"And now money from Mom's trust has gone into her account?""
Dad took a breath.
"We're going to find out exactly?""
"I don't know yet.""
"But she has a ninety-six-thousand-dollar SUV sitting in our driveway!""
"I know, sweetheart.""
"And now money from Mom's trust has gone into her account?""
Dad took a breath.
"We're going to find out exactly what happened.""
He called Rebecca before we reached the truck.
She answered immediately.
"The bank has confirmed the transfer," she said.
"The funds moved through an intermediary account before reaching an account registered to Kayla.""
"Can the money be recovered what happened.""
He called Rebecca before we reached the truck.
She answered immediately.
"The bank has confirmed the transfer," she said.
"The funds moved through an intermediary account before reaching an account registered to Kayla.""
"Can the money be recovered?"" Dad asked.
"Possibly. The bank has flagged the destination account, but we cannot assume the funds are still there. I've advised you to preserve the records and let the investigators handle recovery.""
Dad looked at me?"" Dad asked.
"Possibly. The bank has flagged the destination account, but we cannot assume the funds are still there. I've advised you to preserve the records and let the investigators handle recovery.""
Dad looked at me.
"Can you establish whether Kayla personally authorized the transfer?""
"The account records will be reviewed. We need to determine who controlled the account, what verification methods were used, and whether Kayla knew the source of the funds.""
I thought of my stepsister laughing.
"Can you establish whether Kayla personally authorized the transfer?""
"The account records will be reviewed. We need to determine who controlled the account, what verification methods were used, and whether Kayla knew the source of the funds.""
I thought of my stepsister laughing beside her new SUV.
She had told me that my car was embarrassing.
She had said I might meet a man at a bus stop who could afford to buy me another one.
Now, apparently beside her new SUV.
She had told me that my car was embarrassing.
She had said I might meet a man at a bus stop who could afford to buy me another one.
Now, apparently, thousands of dollars connected to my mother's estate had landed in an account bearing her name.
I wanted to hate her.
But beneath the anger was a question I couldn't ignore.
Had Kayla known all along?
When we arrived home, her SUV was gone.
Monica stood in the kitchen, speaking rapidly into, thousands of dollars connected to my mother's estate had landed in an account bearing her name.
I wanted to hate her.
But beneath the anger was a question I couldn't ignore.
Had Kayla known all along?
When we arrived home, her SUV was gone.
Monica stood in the kitchen, speaking rapidly into her phone.
She ended the call when she saw us.
"Where have you been?""
Dad placed his keys on the counter.
"Where's Kayla?""
"Out.""
"Where?""
"With friends.""
"Call her.""
Monica's eyes narrowed.
"Why?""
"Because I have questions about a her phone.
She ended the call when she saw us.
"Where have you been?""
Dad placed his keys on the counter.
"Where's Kayla?""
"Out.""
"Where?""
"With friends.""
"Call her.""
Monica's eyes narrowed.
"Why?""
"Because I have questions about a transfer into her account.""
For the first time, Monica's expression changed in a way I couldn't mistake.
Fear.
Then she covered it with anger.
"What transfer?""
"Sixty-eight thousand dollars.""
She laughed too quickly.
"I have transfer into her account.""
For the first time, Monica's expression changed in a way I couldn't mistake.
Fear.
Then she covered it with anger.
"What transfer?""
"Sixty-eight thousand dollars.""
She laughed too quickly.
"I have no idea what you're talking about.""
"Then you won't mind helping us understand it.""
Monica folded her arms.
"You cannot keep interrogating me like this.""
"I'm not interrogating you. I'm asking you a question.""
"And I'm telling no idea what you're talking about.""
"Then you won't mind helping us understand it.""
Monica folded her arms.
"You cannot keep interrogating me like this.""
"I'm not interrogating you. I'm asking you a question.""
"And I'm telling you that I know nothing about it.""
Dad held her gaze.
"Then call Kayla.""
Monica took out her phone.
She dialed.
No answer.
She tried again.
Still nothing.
"She's probably driving," she muttered.
Dad glanced toward the window you that I know nothing about it.""
Dad held her gaze.
"Then call Kayla.""
Monica took out her phone.
She dialed.
No answer.
She tried again.
Still nothing.
"She's probably driving," she muttered.
Dad glanced toward the window.
"Then tell her to call me when she stops.""
Monica put her phone away.
"You're making a terrible mistake, Daniel.""
"That remains to be seen.""
He walked into his study.
I followed him.
For the next hour, we waited.
At 5:16 p.m., Kayla finally.
"Then tell her to call me when she stops.""
Monica put her phone away.
"You're making a terrible mistake, Daniel.""
"That remains to be seen.""
He walked into his study.
I followed him.
For the next hour, we waited.
At 5:16 p.m., Kayla finally called.
Dad put her on speaker.
"Where are you?""
"In the city. Why?""
"Did you receive sixty-eight thousand dollars into an account registered in your name?""
Silence.
Then Kayla said, "What?""
"The bank has identified a transfer connected to your account called.
Dad put her on speaker.
"Where are you?""
"In the city. Why?""
"Did you receive sixty-eight thousand dollars into an account registered in your name?""
Silence.
Then Kayla said, "What?""
"The bank has identified a transfer connected to your account. I need you to tell me whether you authorized it.""
"No!""
Her voice rose.
"I didn't do anything!""
"Then explain how the money arrived.""
"I don't know!""
Monica appeared in the doorway.
"Daniel, stop. I need you to tell me whether you authorized it.""
"No!""
Her voice rose.
"I didn't do anything!""
"Then explain how the money arrived.""
"I don't know!""
Monica appeared in the doorway.
"Daniel, stop frightening her.""
Dad ignored her.
"Kayla, did your mother ever ask you to open a bank account?""
"No.""
"Did she ever ask you to receive money on her behalf?""
Another silence.
Then Kayla said, very quietly, "She told me it was an investment.""
frightening her.""
Dad ignored her.
"Kayla, did your mother ever ask you to open a bank account?""
"No.""
"Did she ever ask you to receive money on her behalf?""
Another silence.
Then Kayla said, very quietly, "She told me it was an investment.""
Monica went rigid.
Dad looked up at her.
"What investment?""
Kayla began crying.
"Mom said there was money from an old family account. She said it was mine because she had helped manage it. She told me I could use it to startMonica went rigid.
Dad looked up at her.
"What investment?""
Kayla began crying.
"Mom said there was money from an old family account. She said it was mine because she had helped manage it. She told me I could use it to start my online business.""
"How much money?""
"I don't know. She said some of it would arrive in installments.""
Dad closed his eyes briefly.
"Did she tell you the money belonged to Emily's trust?""
"No!""
Kayla sounded genuinely horrified.
"I swear, my online business.""
"How much money?""
"I don't know. She said some of it would arrive in installments.""
Dad closed his eyes briefly.
"Did she tell you the money belonged to Emily's trust?""
"No!""
Kayla sounded genuinely horrified.
"I swear, Dad. I didn't know that.""
I sat down.
"Kayla, did you know Mom had left money for me?""
She hesitated.
"Yes.""
"Did you know it might have been stolen?""
"No, Emily Dad. I didn't know that.""
I sat down.
"Kayla, did you know Mom had left money for me?""
She hesitated.
"Yes.""
"Did you know it might have been stolen?""
"No, Emily!""
Her voice cracked.
"Mom told me the estate had been settled years ago. She said Dad had agreed to help me with the SUV because I needed it for my business.""
I stared at Monica.
My stepmother's face had become a mask.
"Kay!""
Her voice cracked.
"Mom told me the estate had been settled years ago. She said Dad had agreed to help me with the SUV because I needed it for my business.""
I stared at Monica.
My stepmother's face had become a mask.
"Kayla," Dad said, "I need you to come home. Don't move any money, don't delete anything, and don't discuss the records with anyone until Rebecca has advised us.""
"Am I in trouble?""
"I don't know. That dependsla," Dad said, "I need you to come home. Don't move any money, don't delete anything, and don't discuss the records with anyone until Rebecca has advised us.""
"Am I in trouble?""
"I don't know. That depends on what the evidence shows.""
"Mom said everything was legal.""
Dad's voice softened slightly.
"Then the evidence will establish that.""
The call ended.
Monica spun toward him.
"You have no right to frighten my daughter like that on what the evidence shows.""
"Mom said everything was legal.""
Dad's voice softened slightly.
"Then the evidence will establish that.""
The call ended.
Monica spun toward him.
"You have no right to frighten my daughter like that!""
"Then tell me why she believes money from an old family account belongs to her.""
"Because I was trying to help her!""
"With Emily's inheritance?""
"I didn't say that!""
"You didn't have to.""
Monica's hands!""
"Then tell me why she believes money from an old family account belongs to her.""
"Because I was trying to help her!""
"With Emily's inheritance?""
"I didn't say that!""
"You didn't have to.""
Monica's hands shook.
"You have no idea how much I sacrificed for this family.""
Dad stared at her.
"What sacrifice requires taking money from a dead woman's estate?""
Monica's face crumpled for an instant.
Then she straightened.
"Laura had more than enough money shook.
"You have no idea how much I sacrificed for this family.""
Dad stared at her.
"What sacrifice requires taking money from a dead woman's estate?""
Monica's face crumpled for an instant.
Then she straightened.
"Laura had more than enough money. Emily has never gone without anything important.""
I felt something inside me break.
"I went without a car this week because you sold mine.""
She turned on me.
"You can buy. Emily has never gone without anything important.""
I felt something inside me break.
"I went without a car this week because you sold mine.""
She turned on me.
"You can buy another one!""
"With what?""
"Your paycheck!""
I laughed, but there were tears in my eyes.
"My paycheck? You think I can replace a car with a few diner shifts while you move sixty-eight thousand dollars between secret accounts?""
Monica stepped toward another one!""
"With what?""
"Your paycheck!""
I laughed, but there were tears in my eyes.
"My paycheck? You think I can replace a car with a few diner shifts while you move sixty-eight thousand dollars between secret accounts?""
Monica stepped toward me.
"You have no idea how expensive it is to maintain a household.""
Dad raised his voice.
"Stop!""
Both of us fell silent.
He looked at Monica with an expression I had never seen before.
"You keep talking about household me.
"You have no idea how expensive it is to maintain a household.""
Dad raised his voice.
"Stop!""
Both of us fell silent.
He looked at Monica with an expression I had never seen before.
"You keep talking about household expenses. You keep talking about sacrifice. But every time I ask where the money went, you give me another excuse.""
He pointed toward the staircase.
"Pack a bag.""
Monica stared at him.
"What?""
"You are going to stay somewhere expenses. You keep talking about sacrifice. But every time I ask where the money went, you give me another excuse.""
He pointed toward the staircase.
"Pack a bag.""
Monica stared at him.
"What?""
"You are going to stay somewhere else while we establish what happened. You will not access my accounts, and you will not remove any financial records from this house.""
"You can't throw me out!""
"This is my house.""
"We're married!""
"And that doesn't give you permission to take money from my daughter.""
Monica else while we establish what happened. You will not access my accounts, and you will not remove any financial records from this house.""
"You can't throw me out!""
"This is my house.""
"We're married!""
"And that doesn't give you permission to take money from my daughter.""
Monica's face turned scarlet.
"You're choosing her over me.""
Dad shook his head.
"No. You made your choices. I'm finally responding to them.""
For several seconds, she looked as though she might scream.
Instead, she walked upstairs.
A door's face turned scarlet.
"You're choosing her over me.""
Dad shook his head.
"No. You made your choices. I'm finally responding to them.""
For several seconds, she looked as though she might scream.
Instead, she walked upstairs.
A door slammed.
Dad sat down heavily.
I went to him.
"Are you okay?""
He shook his head.
"No.""
I took his hand.
"Neither am I.""
He looked at me, and for the first time since this nightmare began, he allowed himself to slammed.
Dad sat down heavily.
I went to him.
"Are you okay?""
He shook his head.
"No.""
I took his hand.
"Neither am I.""
He looked at me, and for the first time since this nightmare began, he allowed himself to cry.
"I trusted her," he whispered.
"I know.""
"I thought she was helping me protect you.""
I squeezed his hand.
"We'll find out what happened.""
He nodded.
Then his phone rang.
Rebecca.
"Daniel, the bank has provided another detail about the transfer. The account cry.
"I trusted her," he whispered.
"I know.""
"I thought she was helping me protect you.""
I squeezed his hand.
"We'll find out what happened.""
He nodded.
Then his phone rang.
Rebecca.
"Daniel, the bank has provided another detail about the transfer. The account registered to Kayla received the money shortly after a payment was made to a law firm.""
Dad straightened.
"Which law firm?""
Rebecca named it.
Dad looked at the note he'd written earlier.
It was the same firm.
"Why would money from Emily's trust be paid to a law firm?"" registered to Kayla received the money shortly after a payment was made to a law firm.""
Dad straightened.
"Which law firm?""
Rebecca named it.
Dad looked at the note he'd written earlier.
It was the same firm.
"Why would money from Emily's trust be paid to a law firm?"" I asked.
Rebecca answered carefully.
"We don't know yet. But I found a connection between the firm and a property transaction involving Monica several years ago.""
Dad's expression darkened.
"What property?""
"Her former home. The mortgage appears to have been paid off using funds routed through Meridian Lifestyle Services.""
I stared I asked.
Rebecca answered carefully.
"We don't know yet. But I found a connection between the firm and a property transaction involving Monica several years ago.""
Dad's expression darkened.
"What property?""
"Her former home. The mortgage appears to have been paid off using funds routed through Meridian Lifestyle Services.""
I stared at him.
The money hadn't simply disappeared.
It had paid for Monica's debts, her apartment, and possibly the lifestyle she had been building behind our backs.
Rebecca continued.
"There is also a filing connected to the same firm that I believe at him.
The money hadn't simply disappeared.
It had paid for Monica's debts, her apartment, and possibly the lifestyle she had been building behind our backs.
Rebecca continued.
"There is also a filing connected to the same firm that I believe we need to examine immediately.""
"What filing?""
"A petition concerning control of Emily's trust. It was prepared several years ago, but it was never completed.""
Dad's voice became cold.
"Who prepared it?""
Rebecca paused.
"Monica.""
I felt we need to examine immediately.""
"What filing?""
"A petition concerning control of Emily's trust. It was prepared several years ago, but it was never completed.""
Dad's voice became cold.
"Who prepared it?""
Rebecca paused.
"Monica.""
I felt my heart pounding.
"What was she trying to do?"" I asked.
"Based on the preliminary record, she was attempting to obtain authority over the trust's assets beyond the original arrangement.""
"Could she have succeeded?""
"That depends on the my heart pounding.
"What was she trying to do?"" I asked.
"Based on the preliminary record, she was attempting to obtain authority over the trust's assets beyond the original arrangement.""
"Could she have succeeded?""
"That depends on the documents and the legal process. We need the complete file.""
Dad looked toward the staircase.
"Then get it.""
"I've requested it. But there's another issue.""
"What?""
"The documents and the legal process. We need the complete file.""
Dad looked toward the staircase.
"Then get it.""
"I've requested it. But there's another issue.""
"What?""
"The filing contains a statement that Emily had voluntarily agreed to surrender control of her inheritance.""
I stared at the phone.
"I never agreed to that.""
"I understand," Rebecca said.
"That's why the signature and supporting documents need to be examined.""
Dad slowly stood.
"Who witnessed it filing contains a statement that Emily had voluntarily agreed to surrender control of her inheritance.""
I stared at the phone.
"I never agreed to that.""
"I understand," Rebecca said.
"That's why the signature and supporting documents need to be examined.""
Dad slowly stood.
"Who witnessed it?""
Rebecca read the names.
One was Monica.
The other was a man named Thomas Reed.
The missing financial adviser.
And the document was dated three days after my mother's funeral.
Dad looked at me.
"Emily, I think we've finally found what Monica was trying to hide.""
Before I could answer?""
Rebecca read the names.
One was Monica.
The other was a man named Thomas Reed.
The missing financial adviser.
And the document was dated three days after my mother's funeral.
Dad looked at me.
"Emily, I think we've finally found what Monica was trying to hide.""
Before I could answer, the doorbell rang.
A woman in a dark blazer stood on the porch, holding an official envelope.
She introduced herself as an investigator working with the authorities reviewing the financial records.
She asked to speak with Daniel Bennett.
Dad, the doorbell rang.
A woman in a dark blazer stood on the porch, holding an official envelope.
She introduced herself as an investigator working with the authorities reviewing the financial records.
She asked to speak with Daniel Bennett.
Dad invited her inside.
She took a seat at the dining table, opened the envelope, and placed a document in front of him.
"We've located an additional record connected to the transfer," she said.
"It may change the direction of the investigation.""
Dad looked down.
His face went pale.
invited her inside.
She took a seat at the dining table, opened the envelope, and placed a document in front of him.
"We've located an additional record connected to the transfer," she said.
"It may change the direction of the investigation.""
Dad looked down.
His face went pale.
The document was a copy of a statement made by Thomas Reed shortly before he disappeared.
At the bottom was a handwritten note.
If anything happens to me, find Laura's original recording.
Dad lifted his eyes.
"Recording ofThe document was a copy of a statement made by Thomas Reed shortly before he disappeared.
At the bottom was a handwritten note.
If anything happens to me, find Laura's original recording.
Dad lifted his eyes.
"Recording of what?""
The investigator looked at him.
"That's what we're trying to establish.""
Then she turned to me.
"Emily, do you know whether your mother ever recorded a message for you?""
I thought of the old laptop Monica had claimed was destroyed.
I thought of the photograph from what?""
The investigator looked at him.
"That's what we're trying to establish.""
Then she turned to me.
"Emily, do you know whether your mother ever recorded a message for you?""
I thought of the old laptop Monica had claimed was destroyed.
I thought of the photograph from the hospital.
And suddenly, I remembered something my mother had said to me during her final week.
She had pressed a small silver key into my palm.
She told me to keep it somewhere safe.
I had forgotten about it for years.
Until the hospital.
And suddenly, I remembered something my mother had said to me during her final week.
She had pressed a small silver key into my palm.
She told me to keep it somewhere safe.
I had forgotten about it for years.
May you like
Until now.
"I might know where to look," I whispered.
