Chapter 4: The Other Account
Nobody in the living room moved.
The woman’s voice remained on Arthur’s phone.
“Arthur?””
Maya stared at him.
“Put it on speaker.””
Arthur swallowed.
“Maya—”
“Put. It. On. Speaker.””
His hand trembled.
He pressed the button.
The woman’s voice filled the room.
“Arthur, answer me. What happened?””
Maya stepped closer.
“This is Maya.””
Silence.
Then a sharp inhale.
“Oh.””
Maya’s fingers curled around the edge of the coffee table.
“So you know who I am.””
“Yes.””
“Who are you?””
The woman hesitated.
“My name is Elena.””
Jordan looked at Denise.
Denise looked away.
Maya kept her eyes on Arthur.
“What other account were you talking about?””
Arthur reached for the phone.
Maya pulled it away.
“No.””
“That conversation is private.””
“You lost the right to privacy when you used my money.””
Arthur’s face tightened.
“Elena, hang up.””
“No,” Elena said.
Arthur's expression changed.
“Elena.””
“I’m tired of covering for you.””
Rose slowly sat back down.
“Covering for him?””
Elena exhaled.
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Rose.””
Rose’s voice trembled.
“Who are you?””
“My daughter works at the hospital.””
Maya frowned.
“What does that have to do with anything?””
“She was the one who flagged the insurance authorization.””
Arthur suddenly stepped forward.
“Stop.””
Elena continued.
“She noticed something strange. Your grandmother’s surgery was approved. The hospital received the insurance payment. Then someone submitted a separate payment using Maya’s cashier’s check.””
Maya looked at the receipts.
“But why?””
“Because the second payment created an overpayment.””
Jordan spoke.
“So the hospital refunded it.””
“Yes.””
Maya’s eyes narrowed.
“And the refund went to Arthur.””
“Yes.””
Arthur slammed his palm against the coffee table.
“Enough!””
Rose flinched.
Maya didn't.
She had stopped being afraid of his anger.
Now she was afraid of what it was hiding.
“You said there was another account,” Maya said.
Elena went silent.
Arthur whispered, “Maya, please.””
“Where is it?””
No answer.
“Where is the other account?””
Elena finally spoke.
“It’s an account your father opened under your grandmother’s name.””
Rose went completely still.
“What?””
Arthur closed his eyes.
Maya stared at him.
“Why would you open an account under Grandma’s name?””
“I didn't.””
Elena's voice sharpened.
“Arthur.””
“I didn't open it.””
“You gave me the paperwork.””
“I gave you information.””
“You signed the application.””
Maya looked at Denise.
“Is that what the document is?””
Denise shook her head.
“No.””
She reached into her purse again.
This time, she removed several photocopied pages.
“I brought these because I knew this day might come.””
Arthur stared at her.
“You betrayed me.””
Denise gave a bitter laugh.
“You betrayed yourself.””
She placed the papers on the table.
Maya picked them up.
Bank statements.
She scanned the first page.
Rose’s name appeared at the top.
The account had been opened eight months earlier.
The balance was staggering.
Maya looked at Rose.
“Grandma, did you know about this?””
Rose shook her head.
“I've never seen that bank.””
Maya flipped to the next page.
There were deposits.
Small ones at first.
Then larger ones.
Then one massive transfer.
Her eyes stopped.
*$18,000.00*
The date matched the hospital refund.
Jordan leaned over her shoulder.
“That’s it.””
Maya's voice was barely audible.
“They moved the money here.””
Arthur shook his head.
“You don't understand.””
“Then explain.””
“I was protecting the family.””
“From what?””
Arthur looked at Rose.
“From losing everything.””
Rose stared back.
“What were you doing?””
Arthur rubbed both hands over his face.
“There were debts.””
Maya frowned.
“What debts?””
Arthur said nothing.
Jordan looked at the statements.
“Dad, these aren't hospital expenses.””
“No.””
“They're payments.””
Arthur looked at him.
“Stop.””
Jordan kept reading.
“Credit cards. Loans. A mortgage company…”
Maya's stomach tightened.
“Mortgage?””
Arthur's silence answered her.
Rose stood abruptly.
“My house?””
Arthur looked at her.
“Mom…”
“You used my house?””
“I was trying to save it.””
Rose's eyes filled.
“You put my house up as collateral?””
Arthur shook his head.
“It wasn't like that.””
Maya slammed the statement onto the table.
“Then what was it like?””
Arthur stared at her.
“I thought I could fix it.””
“With my money?””
“I was going to put it back.””
“When?””
“I don't know.””
“When?””
Arthur had no answer.
Maya looked at Denise.
“What does Elena know?””
Denise's face tightened.
“She knows more than I do.””
The phone was still connected.
Elena spoke softly.
“I know where the money went.””
Maya turned toward the phone.
“Tell me.””
Arthur lunged for it.
Jordan caught his arm.
“Dad!””
Arthur shoved him away.
Jordan stumbled backward.
Maya rushed between them.
“Don't touch him!””
Arthur froze.
His breathing was ragged.
“I never meant for anyone to get hurt.””
Maya looked at him.
“Someone already did.””
She pointed to herself.
“Me.””
Rose whispered, “Arthur…”
The phone suddenly crackled.
Elena said, “Maya, there’s something else you need to know.””
Maya picked up the phone.
“What?””
Elena lowered her voice.
“The account isn't just holding your money.””
Maya waited.
“What else is in it?””
Elena answered:
“Your grandmother’s entire life savings.””
Rose gasped.
Maya's face went numb.
She turned toward the bank statements.
The account balance was more than she had imagined.
Much more.
And beneath the last transaction was a note:
*ACCOUNT REVIEW — FRAUD INVESTIGATION PENDING.*
Jordan pointed at the screen.
“Dad…”
Arthur stared at it.
Then his phone buzzed again.
A new message appeared.
*BANK FRAUD UNIT: PLEASE REMAIN AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONING.*
Arthur's face collapsed.
But Maya was staring at something else.
A second line appeared beneath the message.
*RELATED ACCOUNT HOLDER: MAYA JOHNSON.*
Maya's blood ran cold.
“Why does the bank think I'm connected to it?””
Arthur looked at her.
May you like
He opened his mouth.
And this time, he had no lie ready.
