Chapter 11: My Mother's Double Life
Jonathan enlarged the photograph.
The woman at the bank counter looked remarkably similar to my mother.
The same dark eyebrows.
The same narrow chin.
The same way of holding her head slightly to the left.
But it wasn't Eleanor.
It was Margaret.
Daniel sat down.
“My mother used Eleanor's identity?””
Jonathan nodded.
“It appears that way.””
My mother stared at the screen.
“Why would she do that?””
Daniel looked devastated.
“I don't know.””
I studied the photograph.
“Could Margaret have been trying to hide the money from my grandfather?””
Jonathan considered the possibility.
“That's one explanation. If Arthur controlled the family accounts, Margaret may have used Eleanor's identity to move money somewhere he couldn't easily trace.””
“But why use Mom's name?””
“Perhaps she believed Eleanor would be safer if the records appeared to implicate her.””
My mother shook her head.
“Safer? I spent years wondering whether someone had stolen my identity. I was questioned by the police. I nearly lost my apartment because a collection agency believed I owed money.””
I turned toward her.
“What?””
She looked at me.
“I didn't want you worrying.””
“Mom, what collection agency?””
“Years ago. Before you started college. I received letters about debts I had never taken out. I paid a lawyer to help me clear them.””
Jonathan immediately asked for the approximate dates.
My mother gave him the information.
He checked the bank records.
Then he stopped.
“These dates match.””
Daniel looked up.
“What does that mean?””
“Someone may have used Eleanor's identity for several financial transactions over the following years. We need to investigate whether those debts were connected to the original account.””
My mother sat down.
“I thought I had done something wrong.””
I took her hand.
“You did nothing wrong.””
She stared at the photograph.
“Margaret promised me she would protect you.””
Daniel closed his eyes.
“She may have been trying to.””
I looked at him.
“Then why didn't she tell us?””
He shook his head.
“I wish I knew.””
Vanessa had been standing near the vault door, unusually quiet.
I turned toward her.
“You said your mother showed you the documents when you were sixteen.””
She nodded.
“What exactly did she tell you?””
Vanessa looked at her father.
Then she sat down.
“She told me Richard had discovered something about Grandpa's business. She said there had been illegal payments, false invoices, and money missing from several accounts.””
“Did she tell you who was responsible?””
Vanessa hesitated.
“She said Grandpa wasn't working alone.””
Daniel leaned forward.
“Who was helping him?””
“I don't know.””
“Vanessa, think.””
She closed her eyes.
“Mom mentioned a man named Peter.””
Daniel went still.
“Peter Lawson?””
Vanessa nodded.
Jonathan immediately opened the company records.
“Who is Peter Lawson?””
Daniel answered.
“He was my father's financial controller. He worked for the family business for nearly thirty years.””
Jonathan checked the old invoices.
“His name appears here.””
He pointed to the payments made to Northbridge Security.
“Peter Lawson authorized several of these transfers.””
My mother looked at the photograph of Richard.
“Your father was trying to expose them.””
Daniel nodded slowly.
“Now I understand why he wanted Richard gone.””
I felt a cold anger settle inside me.
“My father discovered the theft, and they used my mother's identity to hide the money afterward.””
Jonathan nodded.
“That appears to be a possible explanation. But we need the original records and independent verification.””
Daniel paced the narrow room.
“I remember Peter. He attended Richard's funeral. He even gave a speech about family loyalty.””
My mother looked up.
“He came to my house.””
Daniel stopped.
“When?””
“About two weeks after the funeral. He said Richard had left some personal debts. He asked me to sign a few papers.””
My heart began pounding.
“Did you sign anything?””
“I don't remember. He brought so many documents. I was exhausted.””
Jonathan leaned forward.
“Do you remember what the papers looked like?””
“One was a bank form. Another was something about life insurance.””
Jonathan exchanged a glance with Daniel.
“Life insurance?””
My mother nodded.
“Peter said Richard wanted to make sure I had money to raise you.””
Daniel looked confused.
“My brother didn't have a life insurance policy through the company.””
Jonathan opened another folder.
“There is an insurance payment recorded in the trust archive.””
“How much?”” I asked.
“Five hundred thousand dollars.””
My mother shook her head.
“I never received that.””
Jonathan checked the recipient.
“The payment was issued to a beneficiary account under Eleanor's name.””
I felt my jaw tighten.
“Another account?””
“Yes.””
He examined the date.
“This one was opened six weeks before Richard died.””
My mother whispered:
“I never knew.””
Daniel looked toward Vanessa.
“Did your mother know about the insurance?””
Vanessa nodded.
“She told me she had tried to find out what happened to the money.””
Jonathan looked up.
“Did she ever tell you whether she succeeded?””
Vanessa's face changed.
“She said the money had been transferred to someone who could protect it.””
“Who?””
“I don't know.””
Jonathan turned back to the records.
“There is a reference number here. It leads to a separate trust account.””
He typed for several moments.
Then he leaned back.
“I found it.””
Daniel moved beside him.
“What is it?””
Jonathan read the account title.
“Eleanor Whitmore Protection Fund.””
My mother looked startled.
“What?””
“The account is still active.””
“How much is in it?””
Jonathan examined the balance.
His expression changed.
“Approximately seven hundred and thirty thousand dollars.””
Daniel stared.
“That's impossible.””
Jonathan continued reading.
“According to the latest statement, the account has generated interest for more than twenty-five years.””
My mother covered her mouth.
“Why didn't anyone tell me?””
Jonathan looked through the transaction history.
“Because the account was established under a private protection arrangement. The administrator was Margaret Whitmore.””
I looked at the records.
“So Margaret really was trying to protect Mom.””
“Possibly,” Jonathan replied.
Then he stopped.
There was a recent transaction.
A withdrawal request dated just twelve days earlier.
I leaned closer.
“Who requested that?””
Jonathan checked the authorization.
The request had been made through a legal representative.
The name was familiar.
I read it aloud.
“Vanessa Whitmore.””
Everyone turned toward her.
She immediately shook her head.
“I didn't withdraw anything.””
Jonathan examined the document.
“The request was denied because the trust required Eleanor's approval.””
I stared at Vanessa.
“Why were you trying to access my mother's account?””
She looked frightened.
“I was trying to find out what Grandma had left behind.””
“Seven hundred thousand dollars isn't a family photograph, Vanessa.””
“I didn't know whose money it was!””
“You used my mother's name again.””
She looked at Daniel.
“Dad, please tell him.””
But Daniel remained silent.
Jonathan placed the request beside the other forged documents.
“There's another problem.””
He pointed to the date.
“The legal representative who submitted this request also filed an application to transfer the entire protection fund into a new account.””
“Whose account?”” I asked.
Jonathan turned the screen toward us.
The proposed beneficiary wasn't Vanessa.
It wasn't Daniel.
It was Peter Lawson.
My mother's face went white.
“Peter is still alive?””
Daniel nodded slowly.
“Yes.””
Jonathan looked at the transaction history.
“And according to these records, he is scheduled to meet someone tomorrow morning.””
“Who?”” I asked.
Jonathan zoomed in on the appointment details.
May you like
The name appeared beside the meeting location.
*Vanessa Whitmore.*
