Chapter 6: The Woman on the Other End of the Phone
I didn't move.
Vanessa stood in Dad's study with the black folder in one hand and her phone pressed against her ear.
The hallway was dark.
My bedroom door was open only a few inches.
I could hear every word.
"Stop asking questions," she whispered.
"I told you I would handle it.""
A man's voice came through the phone, too faint for me to understand.
Vanessa rubbed her forehead.
"No. The account hasn't been touched. I know that.""
Another pause.
"Because Eleanor put restrictions on it. That's what I've been trying to explain.""
My stomach tightened.
Eleanor.
My mother's name.
Vanessa turned toward the desk.
"Listen. Daniel thinks the first account is everything. He doesn't know the full history.""
I held my breath.
Then she said something that made my skin crawl.
"Your name is still on the old paperwork.""
The man on the other end said something.
Vanessa's voice became sharper.
"Don't you dare tell me this is my fault. You were the one who said the account could be accessed.""
She ended the call.
Then she opened the folder again.
I watched her remove a document and photograph it with her phone.
My heart pounded.
I needed proof.
Slowly, I reached for my phone on the bedside table and opened the camera.
The screen lit up.
I immediately lowered the brightness.
I pointed it through the gap.
Vanessa turned the document toward the desk lamp.
I managed to take three photographs.
Then the floorboard beneath my foot creaked.
Vanessa spun around.
"Who's there?""
I stepped back into my room and closed the door without making a sound.
My heartbeat was so loud I thought she would hear it.
The study door opened.
Footsteps approached.
Then stopped outside my bedroom.
"Maya?""
I didn't answer.
A few seconds passed.
Then the handle moved.
I had locked the door.
Vanessa knocked twice.
"Open this door.""
I climbed back into bed and pulled the blanket over myself.
"What?"" I called.
"Why is your light on?""
"I was getting water.""
"Go to sleep.""
Her footsteps moved away.
I waited until I heard her bedroom door close.
Then I checked the photographs.
The first was blurry.
The second showed the top half of the document.
The third was clear enough to read several lines.
At the top was a bank name.
Below it was an account reference number.
And near the bottom were two names.
*Eleanor Carter.*
*Vanessa Whitmore.*
I stared at the screen.
Why would Vanessa's name be on a document connected to my mother's private account?
I wanted to wake Dad immediately.
But I remembered her warning.
If Daniel finds out who helped me open the account, we're both finished.
Who was she talking about?
I waited until morning.
At breakfast, Dad was already dressed for work.
He looked as though he hadn't slept.
Vanessa sat at the kitchen island, scrolling through her phone.
Brielle was eating cereal.
I sat across from Dad.
"Can I talk to you?""
He looked up.
"Of course.""
"Alone?""
His eyes moved briefly toward Vanessa.
"Sure. Come with me.""
We walked into the garage.
Dad closed the door behind us.
"What's wrong?""
I showed him the photographs.
His expression changed immediately.
"Where did you get these?""
"I saw Vanessa in your study last night. She was taking papers from Rebecca's folder.""
Dad studied the images.
"Did she see you?""
"I don't think so.""
He enlarged the clearest photograph.
His jaw tightened.
"That's an account authorization document.""
"Why is her name there?""
"I don't know.""
He looked at me.
"Did you hear anything?""
I told him everything.
The phone call.
The other account.
The man whose name Vanessa hadn't mentioned.
Dad listened without interrupting.
When I finished, he put his hand on the garage workbench.
"She said someone helped her open the account?""
"Yes.""
He looked toward the house.
"Stay here.""
He walked back inside.
I followed a few seconds later.
Vanessa was standing at the kitchen island.
Dad placed the photograph on the counter.
"What's this?""
She glanced down.
For a moment, she didn't move.
Then she laughed.
"Where did you get that?""
"Answer the question.""
"It's an old document.""
"Why is your name on it?""
Vanessa took a sip of coffee.
"I don't remember.""
Dad stared at her.
"You don't remember opening an account with Eleanor?""
Her hand stopped.
Brielle looked up.
"Mom?""
Vanessa placed the cup down.
"Daniel, this is getting ridiculous. That document is probably from years ago.""
"Then it should be easy to explain.""
She looked at me.
"Did you take photographs of my things?""
I didn't answer.
Dad stepped between us.
"Don't change the subject.""
Vanessa folded her arms.
"Your wife asked me to help with some paperwork. That's all.""
Dad went still.
"What paperwork?""
"Financial paperwork.""
"What kind?""
"I don't remember!""
Dad leaned forward.
"Then why were you whispering on the phone last night about another account?""
Vanessa's face drained.
Brielle put down her spoon.
"You were on the phone last night?""
Vanessa turned toward her.
"Stay out of this.""
Dad pointed to the document.
"I want the full explanation.""
Vanessa looked at the front door.
Then she looked back at Dad.
Finally, she said, "Eleanor and I discussed a business arrangement before she died.""
Dad frowned.
"What business arrangement?""
"She wanted to invest in something.""
"With you?""
Vanessa nodded reluctantly.
"She said she trusted me.""
I stared at her.
"My mother never mentioned that.""
"She didn't tell you everything.""
Dad picked up the photograph again.
"Then why was the account restricted?""
Vanessa hesitated.
"Because Eleanor changed her mind.""
"Why?""
"She became paranoid.""
Dad's voice hardened.
"Stop calling my wife paranoid.""
Vanessa raised both hands.
"Fine! She thought I was going to take advantage of her. She accused me of using her money to start a business.""
I felt sick.
"What business?""
Vanessa looked at me.
"You're too young to understand.""
Dad slammed his palm against the counter.
"Enough!""
The kitchen went silent.
He took out his phone.
"I'm calling Rebecca.""
Vanessa moved toward him.
"Daniel, don't.""
He stepped away.
"Why? What are you afraid she'll discover?""
Vanessa's expression changed.
For a moment, she looked as though she might cry.
Then she said something that stunned us all.
"Because Eleanor didn't just leave money for Maya. She promised me a share before she died.""
Dad stared at her.
"What?""
"She made an agreement with me.""
"What agreement?""
Vanessa looked down.
"She said if the investment succeeded, I would receive a percentage.""
Dad shook his head.
"Why would she make an investment with you?""
"Because I had a business plan!""
"What business?""
Vanessa hesitated.
Then she finally answered.
"A children's clothing company.""
I frowned.
"What does that have to do with Mom?""
Vanessa looked at me.
"Your mother helped me get it started.""
Dad shook his head.
"Eleanor never told me.""
"Because she knew you wouldn't approve.""
"How much money did she invest?""
Vanessa's lips trembled.
"Fifty thousand dollars.""
Dad went completely still.
"Fifty thousand?""
"Yes.""
"Did you pay it back?""
Vanessa looked away.
"I was supposed to.""
"Did you?""
She said nothing.
Dad turned toward me.
Then back to Vanessa.
"Where did that money go?""
Vanessa picked up her handbag.
"I don't have to answer that.""
Dad moved toward the doorway.
"You're not leaving until we understand what happened.""
She stopped.
Then her phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
I caught a glimpse of the caller's name.
*Graham.*
Vanessa rejected the call.
A second later, a message appeared.
I couldn't read the entire thing, but I saw the first sentence.
You need to tell Daniel before Rebecca finds the original agreement.
Dad saw it too.
He reached for the phone.
Vanessa pulled it away.
"Don't touch my phone!""
Dad looked at the name on the screen.
"Who is Graham?""
Vanessa's face went pale.
Nobody answered.
Then Brielle spoke from the kitchen island.
"He's the man Mom used to meet at the hotel.""
Vanessa turned toward her daughter.
"Brielle, don't.""
But Brielle was already crying.
"He told me he was Mom's business partner.""
Dad stared at Vanessa.
"Which hotel?""
Brielle wiped her cheeks.
"The one near the old office. Mom said Dad knew about the meetings.""
Dad slowly shook his head.
"I have never heard of Graham.""
Vanessa backed away.
And just as Dad reached for his phone to call Rebecca, Brielle whispered the one detail that changed everything.
"Mom said Graham was the person who helped her get Eleanor's signature on the original investment agreement.""
Dad froze.
May you like
Because the date Brielle mentioned was three days before my mother died.
And according to the letter Rebecca had just shown us, my mother had been too sick to leave the hospital that entire week.
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