Chapter 5: The Money That Never Reached Nia
Derrick carried the documents into the house, but he refused to let the conversation move away from the front entrance.
The family gathered in the bright foyer, where sunlight poured through tall windows and reflected off the polished floors.
Malcolm remained near the doorway.
Nia stood beside her father.
Kayla hovered near the stairs, repeatedly glancing at her mother.
Monica placed her coffee mug on a console table.
“Now that we're inside, can we stop treating this like a police interrogation?””
Derrick laid the documents on the table.
“Then answer three questions.””
Monica sighed.
“Derrick—”
“Who sold Nia's car? Who authorized the payment for Kayla's SUV? And why are there transfers from my account that I don't recognize?””
Monica stared at the papers.
“I told you. I was trying to help Kayla.””
“That answers none of those questions.””
“Because you're refusing to understand the situation.””
Derrick leaned forward.
“Then make me understand.””
Monica looked toward Kayla.
Her daughter lowered her eyes.
Finally, Monica spoke.
“I contacted someone about Nia's car because I thought we could get a good price for it. Kayla needed transportation, and Nia had been talking about getting a different car eventually.””
Nia's head snapped up.
“When did I say that?””
“You mentioned it months ago.””
“I said I might upgrade someday. I never said you could sell it!””
“You were always complaining about repairs.””
“My car needed an oil change and new tires!””
Monica raised her voice.
“You're twisting everything I say!””
“No,” Nia replied.
“I'm telling you what actually happened.””
Derrick held up a hand.
“Continue, Monica.””
She took a breath.
“The buyer offered a reasonable amount. I believed it was practical to put that money toward something more reliable for the family.””
“Where is the money from the sale?””
Monica hesitated.
“It went toward the purchase.””
“Which account received it?””
“I don't remember the exact details.””
Derrick looked at Malcolm.
“Can you confirm whether the sale proceeds were credited toward the SUV?””
Malcolm opened his briefcase and removed another sheet.
“The dealership's records show a separate vehicle-sale transaction. However, the proceeds were not listed as a direct credit against the SUV's purchase price.””
Nia felt her stomach drop.
“Then where did my money go?””
Malcolm held the document out to Derrick.
“The dealership received the full payment shown in your banking notification. The sedan sale was handled separately.””
Derrick read the page.
A payment of $8,400 had been recorded for Nia's sedan.
The buyer had paid through a separate transfer.
The receiving account was partially masked.
Derrick compared the last four digits with the account listed on the handwritten note.
They matched.
He looked up.
“Monica, you told me the SUV purchase was funded by my account. You told Nia the sale of her car was used to help pay for it.””
Monica's face tightened.
“I said the sale helped with the overall arrangement.””
“No. You told her you sold her car because Kayla needed something better.””
“That's the same thing!””
“It's not the same thing if the money never went toward the SUV.””
Monica opened her mouth.
Then looked away.
Nia gripped the edge of the console table.
“Where's my $8,400?””
Monica rubbed her forehead.
“I needed to move money around temporarily.””
“Where is it?””
“I said temporarily!””
“You've been telling me what I can and can't afford since you married Dad,” Nia said, her voice shaking.
“You told me to save my money, pay my bills, and be responsible. I did all of that. And then you sold the one thing I worked for without asking me.””
Monica turned sharply.
“I gave you a roof over your head!””
“My father did too.””
The foyer went silent.
Even Monica seemed startled.
Nia swallowed hard.
“I never asked you to buy me anything. I never demanded expensive clothes or vacations. I bought my own car.
I paid my own insurance. I put gas in it with money I earned.””
Her eyes filled again.
“And you took it away like it meant nothing.””
Kayla shifted near the staircase.
“Mom, where did the money go?””
Monica turned toward her.
“Stay out of it.””
“But you told me everything was paid for.””
“It is paid for!””
“Then why are we arguing about money?””
Monica's voice rose.
“Because your father has decided to make this into something it isn't!””
Derrick placed the papers in a neat stack.
“Then show me the account where the sale proceeds went.””
Monica looked at him.
“I can't access it right now.””
“Why?””
“Because I don't have the paperwork with me.””
“Where is it?””
“In my office.””
“Then bring it.””
She remained still.
Derrick straightened.
“Monica.””
“Fine!””
She marched down the hallway, her heels clicking against the floor.
Nia watched her disappear into the home office.
Kayla approached her father.
“Dad, I swear I didn't know any of this was happening.””
Derrick looked at her.
“Did your mother tell you how much the SUV cost?””
“Yes.””
“And she told you the purchase was legitimate?””
“Yes.””
“Did you ask where the money came from?””
Kayla's face flushed.
“I thought she had savings.””
Derrick waited.
Kayla looked toward Nia.
“I didn't think she was taking your money.””
Nia folded her arms.
“You didn't think about me at all.””
Kayla's expression crumpled.
“That isn't true.””
“Then why didn't you ask what happened to my car?””
“I thought you agreed!””
“And when I said I didn't?””
Kayla had no answer.
Derrick's phone buzzed.
He looked down.
A message had arrived from his bank.
*Your request for additional transaction verification has been received. Please review the account activity associated with your purchasing authorization profile.*
Beneath it was a secure link to a list of historical transactions.
Derrick opened it.
The page showed a series of transfers extending back several months. Some were small enough to disappear among his ordinary expenses. Others were substantial.
He scrolled down.
$4,200.
$7,500.
$2,900.
Then another transfer.
$12,000.
Every one had been processed through the same authorization profile.
He tapped the oldest entry.
A reference field appeared.
*HOUSEHOLD SUPPORT — M. CARTER*
Derrick stared at it.
He had never created a household-support profile.
He had never approved recurring transfers under that label.
And the activity began almost exactly six months earlier, around the time Monica had started insisting that he stop reviewing every bill because it made her feel as if he didn't trust her.
The realization made his stomach tighten.
He had thought he was giving his wife room to manage their household.
Had he given her access to something else without realizing it?
Before he could investigate further, Monica returned with a thin folder.
She placed it on the table.
“Here. Everything you need is in there.””
Derrick opened it.
The first pages contained routine household receipts.
Then he found a bank transfer confirmation.
The amount was $8,400.
The date matched the sale of Nia's sedan.
But the recipient's name wasn't Monica.
It was an unfamiliar company.
*CARTER FAMILY SERVICES LLC.*
Derrick stared at the page.
“What is this company?””
Monica went rigid.
“It's something I set up to organize household expenses.””
“You set up a company in my family name?””
“It was for budgeting.””
“Why did the money from Nia's car go into it?””
“Because I was managing the finances!””
Derrick turned the page.
The document showed a second transfer from the same company, made two days after the sedan sale.
The amount was $8,400.
The destination account was masked.
He looked at Monica.
“Where did you send this money?””
She pressed her lips together.
“I can't remember every transfer.””
Derrick set the page down.
“Then we'll get the records.””
Monica's eyes narrowed.
“You wouldn't dare.””
Derrick stared at her.
“Watch me.””
She turned away, but her hand trembled as she reached for the folder.
Nia noticed something tucked into the back pocket.
A folded receipt from a storage facility.
She pulled it free before Monica could stop her.
The receipt listed a unit number, a payment date, and a name.
Not Monica's.
Not Kayla's.
It belonged to a man Nia had seen only twice in her life.
Her father's younger brother.
Uncle Marcus.
Nia looked at Derrick.
“Dad?””
He took the receipt.
The color drained from his face.
May you like
Because Marcus had called him that morning, asking for a loan.
And Derrick had refused.
