Chapter 6: The Missing Twelve Thousand
Jordan took the statement from Arthur.
“Someone else?””
Arthur nodded.
“I swear.””
Maya crossed her arms.
“You expect us to believe that now?””
“I'm telling you the truth.””
Rose stared at him.
“After everything you've done?””
Arthur's eyes filled.
“Mom, please.””
“No.””
Rose's voice was quiet but firm.
“You don't get to ask me for trust.””
Maya looked at the transaction.
*CASH WITHDRAWAL — $12,500.*
The authorization signature looked almost identical to Arthur's.
Almost.
She turned the page over.
“Denise.””
The woman looked up.
“Can you verify this?””
Denise took the statement.
She studied it.
“This isn't a normal withdrawal.””
“What does that mean?””
“Cash withdrawals over a certain amount require additional verification.””
Jordan frowned.
“Like what?””
“Identification.””
“Whose?””
Denise looked at Arthur.
“That's the problem.””
Arthur stared back.
“What?””
“This withdrawal was made using your mother's account credentials.””
Rose shook her head.
“I never went to that branch.””
Denise nodded.
“I know.””
Maya's stomach tightened.
“Then someone impersonated her.””
Denise looked at Arthur.
“Yes.””
Arthur stepped backward.
“I didn't do that.””
Maya snapped, “But you had all her information.””
“I didn't make the withdrawal.””
“Then who did?””
Arthur rubbed his forehead.
“I don't know.””
Jordan was already scrolling through his phone.
“I might.””
Arthur looked at him.
“What are you doing?””
“Checking something.””
Jordan pulled up a photograph.
It showed the family sitting around a Thanksgiving table.
Maya recognized it.
Her father.
Rose.
Jordan.
And Arthur's older sister, Angela.
Maya frowned.
“Why are you looking at Aunt Angela?””
Jordan zoomed in.
“She was here the week before the withdrawal.””
“So?””
“She asked Dad for Grandma's old paperwork.””
Arthur's face changed.
“Jordan.””
“She said she needed the documents for Grandma's insurance.””
Maya looked at Arthur.
“Did she?””
Arthur didn't answer.
Jordan continued.
“She also asked me if Grandma still used the same bank.””
Rose's eyes widened.
“Angela?””
Maya shook her head.
“Why would Aunt Angela steal from Grandma?””
Arthur's voice was quiet.
“She wouldn't.””
Jordan looked at him.
“You sound very sure.””
“Because I know my sister.””
Denise suddenly stood.
“Wait.””
She took the statement.
“What's the branch number?””
Jordan pointed.
“312.””
Denise stared at it.
“I remember this.””
Arthur's eyes narrowed.
“What?””
Denise's voice dropped.
“The person who made the withdrawal wasn't alone.””
Maya stepped closer.
“What did you see?””
“I didn't see them directly.””
“Then what do you mean?””
“One of the tellers reported something unusual.””
Denise looked at Arthur.
“She said the customer kept checking the parking lot.””
Maya's heartbeat quickened.
“Did she describe them?””
“Yes.””
“What did they look like?””
Denise hesitated.
“Black woman. Mid-forties. Short hair. Burgundy coat.””
Rose whispered, “Angela.””
Arthur shook his head.
“No.””
Jordan looked at him.
“Aunt Angela has short hair.””
“And she owns a burgundy coat,” Maya added.
Arthur's face went pale.
Maya looked at him.
“You knew.””
“No.””
“You knew she had access.””
“No.””
“Dad.””
Arthur slammed his fist against the table.
“I didn't know!””
The room went silent.
Arthur stared at his hand.
His breathing became uneven.
Then he whispered:
“She told me she could help.””
Maya stared at him.
“Help with what?””
Arthur sank into a chair.
“The debt.””
Rose closed her eyes.
“What debt?””
Arthur's shoulders collapsed.
“I borrowed money.””
“We know.””
“No.””
He looked at Maya.
“You don't know how it started.””
Maya waited.
Arthur swallowed.
“Your aunt introduced me to someone.””
“Who?””
“A private lender.””
Jordan frowned.
“Why would Angela do that?””
Arthur looked down.
“Because she owed him too.””
Maya felt cold.
“So Aunt Angela was involved?””
Arthur nodded.
“At first, it was supposed to be temporary.””
“How much did you borrow?””
Arthur hesitated.
“Thirty thousand.””
Rose stared at him.
“Thirty thousand?””
“I thought I could repay it.””
“With what?””
“My business.””
Maya frowned.
“What happened to your business?””
Arthur didn't answer.
Jordan did.
“You lost it.””
Arthur looked at him.
“How did you know?””
“You told me last year you were taking a break.””
Maya's eyes narrowed.
“You lied about that too?””
Arthur looked exhausted.
“I couldn't tell you.””
“Why?””
“Because I was ashamed.””
Maya looked away.
For the first time, his fear seemed real.
But then she remembered the cashier's check.
The hospital.
Her empty savings account.
And every night she had spent calculating whether she could afford groceries.
Her sympathy disappeared.
“You could have asked me.””
Arthur looked at her.
“I did.””
“No.””
“You said you wanted to help Grandma.””
“I wanted to help Grandma.””
Arthur nodded.
“Exactly.””
Maya's face hardened.
“You manipulated me.””
Arthur looked down.
“Yes.””
The admission landed harder than a scream.
Rose began crying.
Jordan stepped away from his father.
Maya stared at the man who had raised her.
“You used my love for her.””
Arthur whispered, “I was desperate.””
“That doesn't excuse it.””
“I know.””
“Where's the twelve thousand five hundred?””
Arthur shook his head.
“I don't know.””
“You just said Angela was helping you.””
“She was.””
“Where is she?””
Arthur looked toward the front door.
“She left.””
“When?””
“This morning.””
Maya reached for her phone.
“I’m calling her.””
Arthur grabbed her wrist.
“Don't.””
Maya pulled free.
“Why?””
“Because if she knows you found the account, she'll disappear.””
Maya froze.
“Why would she disappear?””
Arthur's eyes filled with panic.
“Because she has the other half of the money.””
Jordan stared at him.
“What other money?””
Arthur went silent.
Maya's voice dropped.
“How much?””
Arthur looked at the floor.
“Forty thousand.””
Rose stopped crying.
“What?””
Arthur whispered:
“Forty thousand dollars from your savings was never in the account you found.””
Maya's face went blank.
“I only gave you eighteen thousand.””
Arthur looked at her.
“I know.””
Jordan slowly raised his phone.
“Then whose forty thousand are you talking about?””
Arthur didn't answer.
Jordan's phone buzzed.
A text appeared from an unknown number.
*STOP LOOKING FOR THE MONEY.*
A second message arrived immediately.
*OR GRANDMA WILL LOSE MORE THAN HER HOUSE.*
Maya stared at the screen.
May you like
Then a third message appeared.
*ASK YOUR FATHER WHAT HAPPENED ELEVEN YEARS AGO.*
