Chapter 8: Elena
Maya stared at the photograph.
Her younger self stood between Arthur and Elena, maybe eleven years old, smiling at the camera with missing front teeth.
Arthur looked younger too.
Less gray.
Less tired.
But Elena hadn't changed much.
Maya looked at her father.
“Where was this taken?””
Arthur didn't answer.
Jordan took the phone.
“Dad?””
Arthur reached for it.
Jordan moved away.
“Don't.””
Rose looked at the picture.
“I've never seen that woman.””
Maya turned to her.
“You really don't know her?””
Rose shook her head.
“No.””
Arthur whispered, “She was never supposed to come back.””
Maya's eyes narrowed.
“Why?””
“Because she knew.””
“Knew what?””
Arthur sat down.
His hands trembled.
“Everything.””
Maya remained standing.
“What is her connection to us?””
Arthur looked at the photograph.
“Elena worked with your grandfather.””
Rose frowned.
“My husband never mentioned her.””
“He didn't want you to know.””
“Why?””
Arthur swallowed.
“Because she handled some of his financial affairs.””
Maya's expression hardened.
“And eleven years ago?””
Arthur nodded.
“She discovered what I had done.””
Jordan asked, “What did she discover?””
“That I'd moved the money.””
“Grandpa's money.””
“Yes.””
“How much?””
Arthur stared at his hands.
“Almost all of it.””
Rose closed her eyes.
“And Elena helped you hide it.””
Arthur shook his head.
“She threatened to expose me.””
Maya stepped closer.
“Then why is she helping you now?””
“She isn't.””
“She just warned us.””
Arthur looked up.
“She wants something.””
“What?””
“Her money.””
Jordan frowned.
“Her money?””
Arthur nodded.
“I borrowed from her.””
Maya's voice became cold.
“How much?””
“Thirty thousand.””
“Thirty thousand from Elena?””
“Yes.””
“And you used Grandpa's money to pay her back?””
“Some of it.””
Maya shook her head.
“This is insane.””
Arthur looked at her.
“I know.””
“You stole from Grandma.””
“I know.””
“You stole from me.””
“I know.””
“You borrowed from Elena.””
“Yes.””
“And now she's threatening you.””
Arthur nodded.
Maya looked at Rose.
Rose's face was wet with tears.
“Why didn't you tell us?””
Arthur whispered, “Because I thought I could fix it before anyone found out.””
Maya's phone rang.
Unknown number.
She answered.
“Hello?””
Elena's voice came through.
“Maya.””
Maya looked at Arthur.
“Tell me everything.””
“I will.””
“Now.””
Elena paused.
“Your father isn't the only person who took money.””
Maya's stomach tightened.
“Who else?””
“Your aunt Angela.””
Arthur stood.
“Elena, stop.””
“Angela took the twelve thousand five hundred.””
Maya looked at Arthur.
“You knew?””
“I suspected.””
Elena continued.
“She withdrew it because Arthur promised her a share.””
“A share of what?””
“The money he was hiding.””
Maya's pulse raced.
“How much was he hiding?””
Elena hesitated.
“Enough to keep his debt alive.””
“That doesn't answer me.””
“No.””
Elena's voice softened.
“There was another account.””
Maya closed her eyes.
“Another one?””
“Yes.””
“Whose name?””
Elena took a breath.
“Your name.””
Maya felt the blood drain from her face.
Arthur whispered, “Maya…”
“How much?””
“About forty thousand.””
“I know about the forty thousand.””
“No.””
Elena's voice became urgent.
“The forty thousand isn't the account.””
Maya froze.
“What?””
“The forty thousand is what your father withdrew from it.””
Jordan stepped closer.
Maya gripped the phone.
“How much was originally there?””
Silence.
“Elena.””
“Two hundred thousand.””
Rose gasped.
Arthur lowered his head.
Maya stared at him.
“The entire inheritance?””
“Yes.””
“You moved all of Grandpa's money into an account in my name?””
Arthur whispered, “Yes.””
“And then?””
“I lost most of it.””
“And the rest?””
Arthur didn't answer.
Elena did.
“He transferred it into several accounts.””
Maya's mind raced.
“Why?””
“To keep the lender from finding it.””
“Where is it now?””
Elena's voice became quiet.
“That's the problem.””
“What problem?””
“The account was frozen yesterday.””
Maya looked at Arthur.
“Why?””
“Because someone reported suspicious activity.””
“Who?””
Elena said:
“I did.””
Arthur looked up sharply.
“You?””
“I couldn't keep watching this.””
“You destroyed me.””
“No, Arthur. You did that yourself.””
Maya heard another voice in the background.
A man's voice.
“Elena, we need to go.””
Maya frowned.
“Who is that?””
Elena hesitated.
“Someone who has been helping me.””
“Who?””
Elena whispered:
“Your grandfather's attorney.””
Rose suddenly stood.
“My husband's attorney died years ago.””
“No,” Elena said.
“He didn't.””
Rose's face went blank.
Maya looked at her.
“What does that mean?””
Elena continued.
“Your grandfather's attorney has been alive this entire time.””
Arthur stumbled backward.
Maya stared at him.
“Dad?””
Arthur's face was full of terror.
Elena's voice dropped to a whisper.
“He knows where every dollar went.””
The call ended.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Then someone knocked on the front door.
Three slow knocks.
Arthur stared at it.
Rose whispered, “Who is that?””
Maya walked toward the door.
Arthur grabbed her shoulder.
“Don't.””
She pulled away.
“I'm done being scared of what's outside.””
She opened the door.
An elderly Black man stood on the porch, holding a weathered leather briefcase.
His silver hair was neatly combed.
His eyes moved from Maya to Arthur.
Then to Rose.
He removed his glasses.
“Mrs. Rose?””
Rose stared at him.
Her hand flew to her mouth.
“Thomas?””
The man nodded.
Arthur whispered one word.
“No.””
May you like
Thomas looked directly at him.
“You should have told them eleven years ago.””
