Chapter 3: The Woman at the Bank
The house went silent.
Nia looked at her father.
Then at Vanessa.
“What does that mean?””
Vanessa's face had gone pale.
Marcus closed the garage door.
“Not here.””
Nia stepped toward him.
“No. Right here.””
“Nia—”
“You told me Claire was a former bank employee.””
Vanessa laughed once.
There was nothing amused about it.
“She was.””
Nia looked at her.
“Then why did you say she wasn't supposed to come back?””
Vanessa's eyes flicked toward Marcus.
Marcus shook his head.
“Don't.””
Vanessa looked at him.
“You've had six years to tell her.””
Nia's breathing stopped.
“Tell me what?””
Neither answered.
Nia stepped backward.
“Six years?””
Marcus closed his eyes.
Vanessa folded her arms.
“The first time I met your father, Claire was already part of his life.””
Nia looked at Marcus.
“Is that true?””
“Yes.””
Her voice cracked.
“You knew her before Mom died?””
Marcus nodded slowly.
“Yes.””
“How long?””
“Several years.””
Nia stared at him.
“And you never told me?””
Marcus's eyes filled with regret.
“I didn't want to hurt you.””
“You didn't want to hurt me?””
Nia's voice rose.
“You let me believe you and Mom had a normal marriage.””
“They did.””
“Then who was Claire?””
Marcus couldn't answer.
Vanessa did.
“She was your father's business partner.””
Nia turned toward her.
“And?””
Vanessa hesitated.
“She was also your mother's friend.””
That made no sense.
“Then why is everyone acting like she was some kind of criminal?””
Vanessa walked closer.
“Because your mother discovered something.””
“What?””
Vanessa looked at Marcus.
He shook his head.
“Enough.””
Nia stepped between them.
“No. You don't get to do that anymore.””
Marcus looked at his daughter.
Nia pulled out her phone.
“I'm asking one question.””
Marcus waited.
“What did Mom discover?””
He looked at her for a long moment.
Then he said quietly, “Money was missing.””
Nia frowned.
“From where?””
“An account.””
“What account?””
Marcus didn't answer.
Vanessa did.
“Your mother’s.””
Nia felt as though the floor had moved beneath her.
“My mother had a secret account?””
Marcus nodded.
“She did.””
“Why?””
“We don't know.””
Nia looked at Vanessa.
“Claire knew?””
“Yes.””
“And Dad knew?””
“Yes.””
Nia's eyes filled with tears.
“Why didn't anyone tell me?””
Marcus stepped forward.
“Because after your mother died, we found evidence that someone had been moving money out of the account.””
Nia stared at him.
“How much?””
Marcus's jaw tightened.
“Almost two hundred thousand dollars.””
The number seemed impossible.
Nia sat down on a storage box.
“Who took it?””
Marcus shook his head.
“We never proved who.””
“But you suspected someone.””
Marcus said nothing.
Nia looked at Vanessa.
“Who?””
Vanessa's expression changed.
“Don't ask questions you aren't ready to hear the answers to.””
Nia stood.
“I think I'm ready.””
Vanessa's eyes narrowed.
“Your mother wasn't the only person keeping secrets.””
Nia looked at Marcus.
“What does that mean?””
Marcus reached for her.
“Nia, please.””
She stepped away.
“I need air.””
She walked into the backyard.
Ethan was standing near the fence.
He had clearly heard enough.
“Nia.””
She wiped her face.
“Did you know?””
Ethan shook his head.
“Not everything.””
“What do you know?””
He hesitated.
“My mom and your dad fought about Claire years ago.””
“Why?””
“I don't know.””
“Ethan.””
He looked uncomfortable.
“My mom thought your father gave Claire money.””
Nia's stomach dropped.
“Why?””
“She never told me.””
Nia stared at him.
“Did Claire steal the money?””
“I don't know.””
Ethan reached into his pocket.
“But there's something else.””
He handed Nia his phone.
On the screen was an old message.
*If Marcus tells Nia the truth, everything falls apart.*
Nia stared at the sender's name.
She knew it.
*Claire Bennett.*
Her hands began shaking.
“When did she send this?””
Ethan looked toward the house.
“Two years ago.””
Nia looked up.
“Why do you have it?””
Ethan swallowed.
“Because Claire didn't send it to me.””
May you like
He turned his phone around.
“She sent it to my mother.””
