Chapter 5: The Signature
Maya read the bank message three times.
*RELATED ACCOUNT HOLDER: MAYA JOHNSON.*
Her fingers went numb.
“Why is my name on this?””
Arthur didn't answer.
“Dad.””
Nothing.
“Why?””
Arthur walked toward the fireplace.
Maya followed him.
“Don't walk away from me.””
“I need to think.””
“You've had eight months to think.””
Arthur stopped.
Maya held up the bank statement.
“You opened an account under Grandma’s name.””
“I told you, I was trying to protect her.””
“You moved my money into it.””
“I planned to return it.””
“You used her house as collateral.””
“I was fixing a problem.””
“What problem?””
Arthur turned.
“A problem you don't know anything about.””
“Then tell me!””
His eyes flashed.
“You think everything is about you.””
Maya stared at him.
“What?””
“You think because you work hard and save money, you understand how this family survives.””
Maya's mouth fell open.
“I gave you eighteen thousand dollars.””
“You gave it to Grandma.””
“Because you told me she needed it!””
Arthur shook his head.
“And now you're acting like a victim.””
Rose stepped forward.
“Arthur, stop.””
He looked at her.
“Mom—”
“No.””
Rose wiped her tears.
“You've lied to my granddaughter enough.””
Arthur looked down.
Rose pointed at the papers.
“Tell her what you did.””
Arthur’s voice dropped.
“I can't.””
Rose's expression hardened.
“Then I will.””
Arthur's head snapped up.
Rose turned toward Maya.
“Your father had access to my financial records.””
Maya frowned.
“Why?””
“After your grandfather died, Arthur helped me with the bills.””
Maya looked at Arthur.
“You had access to Grandma's accounts?””
“Yes.””
“Passwords?””
“Yes.””
“Bank statements?””
“Yes.””
“Signature?””
Arthur said nothing.
Maya's eyes widened.
“Dad.””
Rose's voice shook.
“He told me I was forgetting things. He said he needed to sign some paperwork for me.””
Maya looked at the photocopied document again.
The signature at the bottom.
It resembled Rose's.
But it wasn't hers.
“You forged her signature.””
Arthur immediately shook his head.
“No.””
“Then whose is it?””
“I don't know.””
Maya held the paper up.
“It's not Grandma's.””
Arthur looked at Denise.
Denise said quietly, “I watched you sign it.””
Rose closed her eyes.
Maya looked at Denise.
“You knew?””
“I suspected.””
“You watched him?””
“I was trying to stop him.””
“You helped him.””
Denise's eyes filled with tears.
“At first.””
Maya stared at her.
“What does that mean?””
Denise sat down.
“I work at the bank.””
Arthur looked at her sharply.
“Denise.””
She ignored him.
“Your father came to me months ago.””
“What did he want?””
“He said your grandmother had authorized him to consolidate her accounts.””
Rose shook her head.
“I never did.””
“I know that now.””
Maya's voice became quiet.
“What did you do?””
Denise looked at her hands.
“I processed the paperwork.””
Maya felt betrayed all over again.
“You helped him.””
“Yes.””
“And now?””
“I started asking questions.””
Arthur laughed bitterly.
“After you got scared.””
Denise looked up.
“After I realized the signatures were forged.””
Silence.
Jordan stepped forward.
“How much money did he move?””
Denise looked at Maya.
“All of it.””
Rose gripped the sofa.
“All?””
“Every account.””
Maya's chest tightened.
“How much?””
Denise hesitated.
“Your grandmother had just over sixty-two thousand dollars.””
Rose's knees weakened.
Maya caught her.
“Grandma.””
Rose clung to her arm.
“That was for my care.””
“I know.””
“It was everything I had.””
Maya looked at Arthur.
He couldn't meet her eyes.
Jordan suddenly spoke.
“Wait.””
Everyone turned.
He was looking at his phone.
“The account wasn't opened eight months ago.””
Denise frowned.
“Yes, it was.””
Jordan shook his head.
“No.””
He turned the screen toward them.
“I searched the bank's email archive.””
He tapped the screen.
“This account was created eleven months ago.””
Maya looked at Arthur.
“Three months before Grandma’s surgery.””
Arthur's face went pale.
Jordan continued.
“And there were transfers before the surgery.””
Maya took the phone.
The dates appeared.
Small deposits.
Then withdrawals.
Then a large payment to a company she didn't recognize.
“What company is this?””
Denise leaned closer.
“Hold on.””
She read the name.
Her expression changed.
“That's a private lender.””
Arthur stepped forward.
“Give me the phone.””
Jordan moved away.
“No.””
Arthur's voice became desperate.
“Jordan, please.””
Jordan stared at him.
“You borrowed money against Grandma's savings.””
Arthur whispered, “I had no choice.””
Maya looked at him.
“You always had a choice.””
“I was trying to keep the house.””
“Why?””
Arthur said nothing.
Maya pointed toward Rose.
“Why was her house in danger?””
Arthur's lips trembled.
“It wasn't the house.””
Maya frowned.
“What?””
Arthur looked at the floor.
“The lender wasn't after the house.””
“Then what?””
He swallowed.
“They were after me.””
Jordan's face tightened.
“Why?””
Arthur looked at his children.
Then at Rose.
Finally, he said:
“Because I owed them more than the house was worth.””
Maya felt the room tilt.
“How much?””
Arthur didn't answer.
His phone rang again.
This time, he looked terrified.
The caller ID showed *PRIVATE NUMBER*.
Maya stared at the screen.
“Answer it.””
Arthur shook his head.
“Dad. Answer it.””
He did.
A man's voice came through.
“Arthur, you have until Friday.””
Arthur closed his eyes.
“Please.””
“You promised the money.””
“I need more time.””
“You already used your mother's account.””
Maya's eyes widened.
The voice continued.
“And now you’ve used your daughter’s money.””
Arthur's face crumpled.
Maya whispered, “Who is that?””
The man continued:
“If you don't pay, we're sending the evidence to the police.””
The call ended.
Nobody spoke.
Then Jordan noticed something on the bank statement.
A transaction Maya hadn't seen.
He pointed at it.
“Dad.””
Arthur looked over.
Jordan read the description aloud.
“*Cash withdrawal — $12,500. Branch authorization: Arthur Johnson.*”
Maya looked at Arthur.
“You withdrew twelve thousand five hundred dollars.””
Arthur shook his head.
“No.””
“The statement says you did.””
“I didn't take cash.””
“Then who did?””
Arthur stared at the transaction.
His face suddenly changed.
“That isn't my signature.””
Maya's heart stopped.
“What?””
Arthur grabbed the paper.
He stared at the authorization.
May you like
Then whispered:
“Someone else has access to this account.””
