Chapter 10: The Account They Opened in My Name
“Someone has stolen my identity.””
My voice barely came out.
The notification was still glowing on my phone.
*Your transfer will be completed within 24 hours.*
Below it was the account number of a financial institution I had never used.
I looked at Daniel.
“How did they open an account in my name?””
He pulled the document closer.
“Your Social Security number, date of birth, and signature were used. Whoever submitted the application also provided copies of your identification.””
“Who has those documents?””
Daniel glanced at Dad.
“Your father, probably. Vanessa might have had access to the family records.””
Dad shook his head.
“I keep Maya's original documents in a locked cabinet.””
“Who has a key?”” Daniel asked.
Dad hesitated.
“Vanessa used to.””
I stared at him.
“Used to?””
“She had access to the household safe before I changed the combination.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“So she could have taken my documents years ago?””
“Yes.””
Daniel opened his laptop.
“There's something else. The company receiving the transfer was registered six weeks ago.””
He turned the screen toward us.
The company was called Bennett Legacy Holdings.
Its registered owner was Maya Bennett.
My name.
My date of birth.
My home address.
Even my old school address appeared in the registration documents.
I felt sick.
“Can we stop the transfer?””
Daniel nodded.
“If we act quickly.””
Dad picked up his phone.
“Call the bank.””
Daniel stopped him.
“Wait.””
“What?””
“If Vanessa knows we're investigating, she could move the money before the bank places a hold.””
Dad stared at him.
“What are you suggesting?””
“We need to establish exactly who authorized the transfer and where the instructions came from.””
I shook my head.
“We're talking about my mother's money. Why are we playing detective?””
Daniel looked at me.
“Because if we rush in without evidence, they'll claim you authorized everything yourself.””
He opened another folder.
“Look at this.””
It was an email exchange between Bennett Legacy Holdings and a financial institution.
The first message requested confirmation of the transfer.
The second included an attachment.
A signed authorization.
I leaned closer.
It was my signature.
Again.
But this time, I noticed something.
The signature wasn't simply copied from an old document.
It had been written by someone who knew how I signed my name.
The capital M had an unusual curve.
The final letter had a small upward stroke.
Only someone who had watched me sign documents repeatedly would know those details.
“Who could have copied this?””
Daniel enlarged the image.
“Look at the witness section.””
I read the name.
Vanessa Bennett.
Dad slammed his hand against the table.
“That's enough!””
He grabbed his phone and called his attorney.
“I need an emergency injunction and an immediate freeze on every account connected to Bennett Legacy Holdings.””
He paced across the room while explaining the situation.
Daniel continued searching.
I sat motionless.
Then I remembered something.
“Wait.””
Both men turned.
“What?”” Dad asked.
“When Vanessa helped me apply for college, she asked me to sign a bunch of forms.””
Daniel looked up.
“What forms?””
“Financial aid documents. Scholarship paperwork. She said she needed my signature because Dad was traveling.””
Dad frowned.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“I thought she was helping.””
Daniel asked when it happened.
“About eight months ago.””
He checked the dates on the account registration.
His expression changed.
“That's when the company began preparing its identity documents.””
My hands went cold.
“She used my college paperwork?””
“Possibly.””
Dad ended his call.
His attorney had already contacted the bank's fraud department. They were preparing to flag the transfer, but the bank needed a formal statement from me.
I agreed immediately.
Before we could leave, Daniel's phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
“It's Michael.””
Dad stepped closer.
“Put it on speaker.””
Daniel answered.
“What?””
A man's voice came through.
“You have something that belongs to me.””
Daniel looked at me.
“Which thing?””
“Don't play games. I know you've been talking to Marcus.””
Dad leaned toward the phone.
“Michael, this is Marcus Bennett.””
A short laugh followed.
“Hello, Marcus.””
“Where is Vanessa?””
“She's busy.””
“Tell her the transfer is being investigated.””
The man laughed again.
“Then you should tell your daughter to check her email.””
The call ended.
I immediately opened my inbox.
A new message had arrived.
No subject.
No greeting.
Just one attachment.
I opened it.
It was a photograph of my mother.
Not the hospital photograph.
This one showed her sitting in a restaurant, holding a folder across the table from a younger Vanessa.
On the back was a handwritten date.
Three months before she died.
Below the photograph was a message.
*Your mother didn't just discover the theft. She discovered who Vanessa was really working for.*
I stared at the words.
Another line appeared.
*Ask your father about the company he almost lost.*
I turned toward Dad.
“What company?””
His expression changed.
“Not now, Maya.””
“Dad, what company?””
Daniel closed his laptop.
“I think Michael is trying to tell us something.””
Dad looked at him.
“Stay out of this.””
Daniel didn't move.
“Your old company was called Bennett Construction Group, right?””
Dad nodded slowly.
“What about it?””
Daniel placed another document on the table.
A list of former shareholders.
One name appeared beside Dad's.
Lauren Bennett.
Dad stared.
“That's impossible.””
Daniel looked directly at him.
“My mother owned forty percent of your original company.””
Dad sat down.
“What?””
“And when the company was close to bankruptcy, someone transferred her shares without her permission.””
I looked between them.
“Who?””
Daniel tapped the page.
“Vanessa.””
The room fell silent.
May you like
Then Daniel added:
“She didn't meet your wife by accident. She already knew your family.””
