Chapter 6: The Fifty-Thousand-Dollar Trap
Rebecca insisted that we contact the bank before doing anything else.
By noon, I was sitting inside a Fifty-Thousand-Dollar Trap
Rebecca insisted that we contact the bank before doing anything else.
By noon, I was sitting inside a private office at the downtown branch, holding my driver's license while a bank representative searched for the account supposedly opened private office at the downtown branch, holding my driver's license while a bank representative searched for the account supposedly opened in my name.
Dad sat beside me.
Rebecca stood near the window, speaking quietly on her phone.
The representative, a woman named Lauren, typed in my name.
Dad sat beside me.
Rebecca stood near the window, speaking quietly on her phone.
The representative, a woman named Lauren, typed for several minutes.
"Emily Carter?""
"Yes.""
"According to our records, an account was opened under your name on May seventeenth.""
I shook my for several minutes.
"Emily Carter?""
"Yes.""
"According to our records, an account was opened under your name on May seventeenth.""
I shook my head.
"I didn't open it.""
Lauren looked at her monitor.
"The account received an incoming transfer of fifty thousand dollars.""
Dad leaned forward.
"Where head.
"I didn't open it.""
Lauren looked at her monitor.
"The account received an incoming transfer of fifty thousand dollars.""
Dad leaned forward.
"Where did that money come from?""
Lauren hesitated.
"Another financial institution.""
"Can you tell us the sender?""
She examined the details.
"Law did that money come from?""
Lauren hesitated.
"Another financial institution.""
"Can you tell us the sender?""
She examined the details.
"Lawson Property Holdings.""
Dad closed his eyes.
Rebecca immediately stopped speaking on her phone.
"Could you print the account-opening documentationson Property Holdings.""
Dad closed his eyes.
Rebecca immediately stopped speaking on her phone.
"Could you print the account-opening documentation?""
Lauren nodded.
"Of course.""
She disappeared into the back office.
I looked at Dad.
"Why would Vanessa do this?""
He rubbed?""
Lauren nodded.
"Of course.""
She disappeared into the back office.
I looked at Dad.
"Why would Vanessa do this?""
He rubbed his forehead.
"I don't know, sweetheart.""
"Did she think I'd never find out?""
"I think his forehead.
"I don't know, sweetheart.""
"Did she think I'd never find out?""
"I think she believed she could make the paperwork look convincing enough that nobody would question it.""
Rebecca returned to the table.
"There's another possibility. If the fifty thousand dollars she believed she could make the paperwork look convincing enough that nobody would question it.""
Rebecca returned to the table.
"There's another possibility. If the fifty thousand dollars is presented as payment for your supposed property interest, Richard could claim you already received compensation and voluntarily surrendered your rights.""
"But is presented as payment for your supposed property interest, Richard could claim you already received compensation and voluntarily surrendered your rights.""
"But I don't have the money.""
"That's why we need the bank's records.""
Lauren returned carrying several printed pages.
She placed them I don't have the money.""
"That's why we need the bank's records.""
Lauren returned carrying several printed pages.
She placed them in front of us.
The first page showed the account number.
The second showed the opening date.
The third contained the electronic authorization.
I stared in front of us.
The first page showed the account number.
The second showed the opening date.
The third contained the electronic authorization.
I stared at the signature.
It wasn't mine.
It was an approximation.
The letters were slightly uneven, and the final stroke was too long.
Rebecca pointed to the verification at the signature.
It wasn't mine.
It was an approximation.
The letters were slightly uneven, and the final stroke was too long.
Rebecca pointed to the verification section.
"What's this phone number?""
Lauren read it.
"Ending in 4418.""
I immediately recognized it.
"That's Vanessa's old phone number.""
Dad section.
"What's this phone number?""
Lauren read it.
"Ending in 4418.""
I immediately recognized it.
"That's Vanessa's old phone number.""
Dad looked at me.
"Are you sure?""
"She used it for years. She changed numbers last month.""
Rebecca photographed the document.
"That's looked at me.
"Are you sure?""
"She used it for years. She changed numbers last month.""
Rebecca photographed the document.
"That's important.""
Lauren continued.
"The account was accessed several times from a device registered to a phone number ending in 4418 important.""
Lauren continued.
"The account was accessed several times from a device registered to a phone number ending in 4418.""
Dad's hands tightened.
"Can you tell us when?""
Lauren checked the records.
"The most recent access was yesterday evening.""
I looked at.""
Dad's hands tightened.
"Can you tell us when?""
Lauren checked the records.
"The most recent access was yesterday evening.""
I looked at Dad.
Vanessa had been in the house yesterday evening.
She had been standing upstairs, making calls about the documents.
Rebecca leaned Dad.
Vanessa had been in the house yesterday evening.
She had been standing upstairs, making calls about the documents.
Rebecca leaned forward.
"Can the bank freeze the account while the identity fraud investigation is pending?""
Lauren nodded.
"We can place a temporary restriction and forward.
"Can the bank freeze the account while the identity fraud investigation is pending?""
Lauren nodded.
"We can place a temporary restriction and open a fraud investigation.""
"Please do that.""
While Lauren processed the request, Dad stepped into the hallway to make another open a fraud investigation.""
"Please do that.""
While Lauren processed the request, Dad stepped into the hallway to make another call.
I remained with Rebecca.
She studied the paperwork.
"Emily, I need you to think carefully. Did Vanessa ever have access to your phone, email, or identification call.
I remained with Rebecca.
She studied the paperwork.
"Emily, I need you to think carefully. Did Vanessa ever have access to your phone, email, or identification documents?""
"She had access to my driver's license. And she knew my date of birth.""
"Your Social documents?""
"She had access to my driver's license. And she knew my date of birth.""
"Your Social Security information?""
I swallowed.
"I left a folder in the office when I was applying for a new job. It had copies Security information?""
I swallowed.
"I left a folder in the office when I was applying for a new job. It had copies of my documents.""
Rebecca wrote something down.
"Do you know whether she accessed it?""
"No.""
She closed her notebook.
"We'll need to review the circumstances of the account opening of my documents.""
Rebecca wrote something down.
"Do you know whether she accessed it?""
"No.""
She closed her notebook.
"We'll need to review the circumstances of the account opening and preserve every available record.""
Dad returned.
"Michael is coming over tonight. He's found something else.""
"What?""
He looked and preserve every available record.""
Dad returned.
"Michael is coming over tonight. He's found something else.""
"What?""
He looked at Rebecca.
"Apparently, Richard's company isn't just receiving money from Vanessa.""
Rebecca frowned.
"What do you mean?""
Dad lowered his voice.
"Michael at Rebecca.
"Apparently, Richard's company isn't just receiving money from Vanessa.""
Rebecca frowned.
"What do you mean?""
Dad lowered his voice.
"Michael discovered that Lawson Property Holdings has been connected to several property disputes.""
Rebecca's expression tightened.
"Similar disputes?""
"Almost identical discovered that Lawson Property Holdings has been connected to several property disputes.""
Rebecca's expression tightened.
"Similar disputes?""
"Almost identical.""
I felt cold.
"How many?""
"Three.""
Dad looked at me.
"In each case, Richard became involved with someone who owned valuable property. Then financial.""
I felt cold.
"How many?""
"Three.""
Dad looked at me.
"In each case, Richard became involved with someone who owned valuable property. Then financial agreements appeared claiming that his company had invested money into the property.""
Rebecca stood.
"That's not a coincidence.""
Dad shook his head.
"No.""
On the drive home, I watched the city pass outside the window agreements appeared claiming that his company had invested money into the property.""
Rebecca stood.
"That's not a coincidence.""
Dad shook his head.
"No.""
On the drive home, I watched the city pass outside the window.
My mind kept returning to the same question.
Why me?
Why had Vanessa needed my signature?
Why had she created an account in my name?
And why was.
My mind kept returning to the same question.
Why me?
Why had Vanessa needed my signature?
Why had she created an account in my name?
And why was Richard so confident that he could take the house?
When we arrived, I went straight upstairs.
My bedroom door was open.
I knew I Richard so confident that he could take the house?
When we arrived, I went straight upstairs.
My bedroom door was open.
I knew I had closed it before leaving.
I stepped inside.
My desk drawers were pulled out.
My wardrobe had been searched.
The small jewelry box containing had closed it before leaving.
I stepped inside.
My desk drawers were pulled out.
My wardrobe had been searched.
The small jewelry box containing my mother's necklace was sitting on the floor.
I rushed toward it.
The necklace was gone.
I searched beneath the bed, inside the drawers, and behind my mother's necklace was sitting on the floor.
I rushed toward it.
The necklace was gone.
I searched beneath the bed, inside the drawers, and behind the wardrobe.
Nothing.
Dad appeared in the doorway.
"Emily?""
I turned toward him.
"She took Mom's necklace.""
His expression changed immediately.
"Are you sure?""
"It was right here.""
He walked into the room and picked the wardrobe.
Nothing.
Dad appeared in the doorway.
"Emily?""
I turned toward him.
"She took Mom's necklace.""
His expression changed immediately.
"Are you sure?""
"It was right here.""
He walked into the room and picked up the empty jewelry box.
For several seconds, he simply held it.
Then he sat beside me.
"Your mother gave you that necklace when up the empty jewelry box.
For several seconds, he simply held it.
Then he sat beside me.
"Your mother gave you that necklace when you turned sixteen.""
I nodded.
"It was the last birthday present she bought me.""
Dad's eyes became wet.
"I you turned sixteen.""
I nodded.
"It was the last birthday present she bought me.""
Dad's eyes became wet.
"I remember.""
I pressed my hands against my face.
Vanessa had taken the photographs.
She had taken the documents.
Now she had taken the remember.""
I pressed my hands against my face.
Vanessa had taken the photographs.
She had taken the documents.
Now she had taken the only piece of jewelry I had left from my mother.
Dad stood.
"That's enough.""
He called the police and reported the missing property, explaining that the theft might only piece of jewelry I had left from my mother.
Dad stood.
"That's enough.""
He called the police and reported the missing property, explaining that the theft might be connected to the ongoing dispute.
After the call, he went into his office.
I followed.
Michael arrived at seven.
He carried a laptop and be connected to the ongoing dispute.
After the call, he went into his office.
I followed.
Michael arrived at seven.
He carried a laptop and a thick stack of printed documents.
"I've been investigating the transfers," he said.
Dad poured him a glass of water.
"What did you find?""
a thick stack of printed documents.
"I've been investigating the transfers," he said.
Dad poured him a glass of water.
"What did you find?""
Michael opened the laptop.
"Some of the money sent to Richard's company was transferred again into a separate account.""
"WhMichael opened the laptop.
"Some of the money sent to Richard's company was transferred again into a separate account.""
"Whose account?""
Michael turned the screen.
"Vanessa's.""
Dad stared.
"How much?""
"Approximately sixty-eight thousand dollars.""
I frowned.
ose account?""
Michael turned the screen.
"Vanessa's.""
Dad stared.
"How much?""
"Approximately sixty-eight thousand dollars.""
I frowned.
"So she was stealing money from Dad and sending some of it to Richard, but keeping the rest?""
Michael nodded.
"That's"So she was stealing money from Dad and sending some of it to Richard, but keeping the rest?""
Michael nodded.
"That's what the records suggest.""
Dad leaned back.
"Why?""
Michael hesitated.
"There's another document.""
He removed a printed email from his what the records suggest.""
Dad leaned back.
"Why?""
Michael hesitated.
"There's another document.""
He removed a printed email from his folder.
It had been recovered from a business correspondence archive connected to the company.
The message was dated two weeks before Vanessa slapped me.
The sender was Richard Lawson.
The recipient was Vanessa.
Dad folder.
It had been recovered from a business correspondence archive connected to the company.
The message was dated two weeks before Vanessa slapped me.
The sender was Richard Lawson.
The recipient was Vanessa.
Dad began reading aloud.
"'Once the daughter's occupancy is terminated, we can proceed without complications. Her signature is essential began reading aloud.
"'Once the daughter's occupancy is terminated, we can proceed without complications. Her signature is essential. Make sure she signs before David becomes suspicious.''"
My blood ran cold.
Dad continued.
"'The fifty-thousand-dollar. Make sure she signs before David becomes suspicious.''"
My blood ran cold.
Dad continued.
"'The fifty-thousand-dollar payment should be sufficient to support the transfer documents. After completion, we'll divide the proceeds according to our agreement.''"
He stopped.
Rebecca, payment should be sufficient to support the transfer documents. After completion, we'll divide the proceeds according to our agreement.''"
He stopped.
Rebecca, who had joined us by phone, asked him to continue.
Dad read the final paragraph.
"'Remember, Vanessa, David who had joined us by phone, asked him to continue.
Dad read the final paragraph.
"'Remember, Vanessa, David must believe this is a family matter until the property is secured.''"
The room became silent.
I stared at the email.
"She must believe this is a family matter until the property is secured.''"
The room became silent.
I stared at the email.
"She planned this before she demanded the rent.""
Dad nodded slowly.
Michael scrolled farther down.
"There are more messages.""
He opened another one.
This planned this before she demanded the rent.""
Dad nodded slowly.
Michael scrolled farther down.
"There are more messages.""
He opened another one.
This time, Vanessa had written to Richard.
"'Emily is becoming difficult. She refuses to leave, and David is starting to ask questions.''"
Richard time, Vanessa had written to Richard.
"'Emily is becoming difficult. She refuses to leave, and David is starting to ask questions.''"
Richard's reply was short.
"'Then make her believe she has no place there. If she leaves voluntarily, our position becomes's reply was short.
"'Then make her believe she has no place there. If she leaves voluntarily, our position becomes easier.''"
I felt tears sting my eyes.
The $2,000 wasn't rent.
It was a strategy.
She wanted me gone because my presence made it harder easier.''"
I felt tears sting my eyes.
The $2,000 wasn't rent.
It was a strategy.
She wanted me gone because my presence made it harder to complete the scheme.
Dad stood up so suddenly that his chair fell backward.
"She used my daughter.""
Michael nodded.
"And to complete the scheme.
Dad stood up so suddenly that his chair fell backward.
"She used my daughter.""
Michael nodded.
"And there's something else, David.""
He opened the final attachment.
It was a scanned copy of a handwritten note.
The handwriting belonged to Vanessa.
I recognized there's something else, David.""
He opened the final attachment.
It was a scanned copy of a handwritten note.
The handwriting belonged to Vanessa.
I recognized it immediately.
At the top were three words:
*After the transfer.*
Below them was a list.
Sell the property.
Repay Richard it immediately.
At the top were three words:
*After the transfer.*
Below them was a list.
Sell the property.
Repay Richard.
Close the accounts.
And then the final line:
**David must not find out until everything.
Close the accounts.
And then the final line:
*David must not find out until everything is finished.*
Dad stared at the paper.
His face looked older than it had that morning.
Then Michael pointed to a date written is finished.**
Dad stared at the paper.
His face looked older than it had that morning.
Then Michael pointed to a date written beneath the note.
It was scheduled for the following Friday.
Rebecca's voice came through the speaker.
"David, what happens next Friday?""
Dad looked at the calendar on his desk.
His beneath the note.
It was scheduled for the following Friday.
Rebecca's voice came through the speaker.
"David, what happens next Friday?""
Dad looked at the calendar on his desk.
His face drained of color.
"That's the date of my retirement party.""
I frowned.
"What does that have to do with anything?""
Dad slowly turned the paper face drained of color.
"That's the date of my retirement party.""
I frowned.
"What does that have to do with anything?""
Dad slowly turned the paper toward me.
At the bottom, beneath Vanessa's handwriting, was a final sentence.
*Once David signs the retirement property release, Richard gets control.*
I looked at Dad.
He had spent twenty toward me.
At the bottom, beneath Vanessa's handwriting, was a final sentence.
*Once David signs the retirement property release, Richard gets control.*
I looked at Dad.
He had spent twenty-five years building his career.
He had planned to retire, sell nothing, and finally spend time with his family.
But Vanessa had apparently arranged-five years building his career.
He had planned to retire, sell nothing, and finally spend time with his family.
But Vanessa had apparently arranged to use his own retirement celebration as the moment to take his house.
And then Dad noticed something even worse.
The document required two signatures.
His to use his own retirement celebration as the moment to take his house.
And then Dad noticed something even worse.
The document required two signatures.
His.
And mine.
Vanessa had already forged mine once.
This time, she intended to make sure we both signed.
.
And mine.
May you like
Vanessa had already forged mine once.
This time, she intended to make sure we both signed.
