Chapter 3: The Secret Behind the Monthly Transfers
The next morning, Dad drove me to the bank.
He'd barely slept.
Neither had I.
The white graduation car remained parked in our driveway, its red bow slightly crooked from the wind.
For the first time, I didn't care about the car.
I wanted my college money back.
I wanted to know why Denise had been secretly sending money to her brother.
And I wanted to know why Jordan had apparently been involved in something dangerous.
At the bank, Dad requested a meeting with the branch manager.
A woman named Patricia escorted us into a small office.
She wore silver glasses and spoke gently.
"Mr. Williams, you mentioned unauthorized transactions?""
Dad placed the statements on her desk.
"These transfers were made from an education savings account established for my daughter. I didn't authorize them.""
Patricia examined the documents.
"Do you recognize this recipient?""
Dad pointed to Leonard Carter's account.
"No.""
"And this one?""
She showed us another account.
Dad frowned.
"That's Denise's personal checking account.""
Patricia nodded.
"Several transfers went through that account before being sent elsewhere.""
My stomach tightened.
"So she moved the money through her account to hide it?""
Patricia looked uncomfortable.
"I can't determine intent, but the transaction history does show multiple transfers.""
Dad leaned forward.
"Can we recover it?""
"We can open a fraud investigation and review the authorization history. Some transactions may be recoverable depending on the account agreement and how they were approved.""
Dad nodded.
"Please start that process.""
Patricia typed something into her computer.
Then she paused.
"There's another issue.""
Dad looked up.
"What?""
"The account ownership information.""
She turned the monitor slightly.
"The original education account was established with you as custodian and Maya as beneficiary. However, approximately eight months ago, a request was submitted to change the account's designated beneficiary.""
I felt the blood drain from my face.
"Change it to who?""
Patricia looked at the screen.
"Jordan Carter.""
For a moment, nobody spoke.
Dad stood so quickly that his chair scraped against the floor.
"What?""
Patricia raised her hands.
"I'm not saying the change was completed. The request was rejected because additional documentation was required.""
Dad stared at the screen.
"Who submitted it?""
Patricia checked the record.
"Denise Williams.""
I covered my mouth.
She hadn't simply taken money.
She had tried to change the account itself.
"Why?"" I whispered.
Patricia didn't know.
Dad thanked her and asked for copies of every document.
When we left the bank, he walked silently toward the truck.
I followed.
"Did she really try to give Jordan my college account?""
Dad opened the driver's door.
"It appears that way.""
"How could she?""
He rested one hand on the roof of the truck.
"I don't know, sweetheart.""
I climbed inside.
Halfway home, Dad's phone rang.
Denise.
He declined the call.
It rang again.
He declined it again.
Then a text appeared.
*Denise:* We need to discuss this before you make a terrible mistake.
Another message followed.
*Denise:* Jordan is upset. He doesn't deserve to be punished because of your daughter's jealousy.
Dad handed me his phone.
"Read that.""
I did.
My hands trembled.
"She's still blaming me.""
Dad took the phone back.
"Not anymore.""
When we reached home, Jordan was sitting on the front steps.
He looked like he hadn't slept.
The motorcycle was gone.
"Where is your bike?"" Dad asked.
Jordan stood.
"Mom sold it.""
Dad frowned.
"What?""
"She said we needed to put the money somewhere safe.""
"Where?""
Jordan shrugged.
"I don't know.""
Dad looked at him for a long moment.
"Did your mother tell you where the eighteen thousand dollars came from?""
Jordan rubbed the back of his neck.
"She said you were moving money around.""
"Did you believe her?""
Jordan hesitated.
"At first.""
"And afterward?""
He looked down.
I stepped forward.
"Jordan, did you know she took my money?""
He exhaled.
"Look, Maya. I didn't know the whole story.""
"But you knew it wasn't yours.""
He didn't answer.
I laughed once, without humor.
"You took the car too.""
"Mom gave me the keys.""
"That doesn't mean it belonged to you.""
Jordan's expression hardened.
"Why does everything have to be about you?""
I stared at him.
"Because it was my graduation present!""
Dad stepped between us.
"Enough.""
Jordan threw his hands up.
"This is ridiculous. Mom said the money would be replaced.""
Dad went still.
"What did you just say?""
Jordan looked confused.
"What?""
"Who said the money would be replaced?""
"Mom.""
"When?""
Jordan looked toward the house.
"She said Leonard was going to pay her back.""
Dad's expression changed.
"How much does Leonard owe her?""
Jordan shrugged.
"More than the college money.""
The front door opened.
Denise stepped onto the porch.
"Jordan!""
Her voice was sharp.
"Go inside.""
Jordan looked at her.
"Mom, Dad already knows.""
Denise's face tightened.
"Knows what?""
Jordan swallowed.
"About Leonard.""
She walked down the steps.
"Don't say another word.""
Dad moved closer.
"Too late. Tell me what your brother has gotten himself into.""
Denise looked at me.
"Can we please discuss this privately?""
Dad shook his head.
"No more secrets.""
She looked exhausted now.
Her expensive makeup couldn't hide the dark circles beneath her eyes.
"Leonard borrowed money from some people," she said quietly.
"What people?""
"Private lenders.""
Dad's expression hardened.
"How much?""
She looked away.
"Forty thousand.""
Dad stared at her.
"And you've been paying them?""
"Not all of it.""
"With my daughter's college money?""
Denise began crying.
"I didn't have a choice!""
Dad didn't move.
"You had a choice when you submitted that beneficiary change request.""
Her head snapped up.
"How did you find out about that?""
Dad's silence answered her.
Denise backed away.
Then she looked at me with something close to hatred.
"You don't understand what you've done.""
I felt a chill.
"What have I done?""
She wiped her cheeks.
"You've ruined everything.""
Dad stepped forward.
"No. You did that yourself.""
But Denise wasn't looking at him anymore.
She was staring at me.
May you like
And then she said something that made my blood run cold.
"Your father doesn't know what your mother left you, does he?""
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