Chapter 6
I sat down before Monica finished speaking.
My legs suddenly felt too weak to hold me.
"What do you mean?"
Monica hesitated.
"Marcus, I don't know how to say this."
I gripped the phone.
"Just tell me."
She took a breath.
"Denise has been taking money from the accounts you set aside for the girls."
My stomach twisted.
"What accounts?"
"The education funds."
I went completely still.
When I married Denise, I created two separate college savings accounts.
One for Maya.
One for Tasha.
I contributed the same amount to both every month.
I wanted both girls to have opportunities.
I wanted neither child to feel less important.
Those accounts were supposed to be protected until college.
I swallowed.
"How would Denise access them?"
Monica hesitated.
"She said you gave her permission."
I closed my eyes.
"Permission for what?"
"To withdraw money."
My heart pounded.
"How much?"
"I don't know exactly."
I stared at the wall.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Monica's voice broke.
"Because I thought you knew."
I rubbed my forehead.
"What did Denise tell you?"
"She said the money was for family expenses."
I felt sick.
"And the necklace?"
Monica sighed.
"She sold it to a jewelry dealer downtown."
My jaw tightened.
"Do you know which one?"
"Yes."
I wrote down the address.
Then ended the call.
For several minutes, I sat silently.
I wanted to scream.
I wanted to drive straight to Denise's sister's house.
But Maya was upstairs.
Tasha was in her room.
And I needed to make decisions that protected them.
I called my attorney, David Brooks.
He had handled business contracts for my construction company for more than fifteen years.
When I explained the situation, his voice became serious.
"Marcus, do not confront anyone about the accounts until we review the records."
I nodded.
"What should I do?"
"Preserve the documents. Contact the financial institutions. And don't make assumptions until we know exactly what happened."
I took a breath.
"Okay."
Then I called the bank.
After verifying my identity, I requested statements for both education accounts.
The representative explained that some information would require a formal review.
I understood.
But what I could see immediately made my stomach turn.
Large withdrawals had been made from Maya's account.
Several transfers appeared connected to an account Denise controlled.
Tasha's education fund remained largely untouched.
I stared at the screen.
For years, I'd believed I was treating both daughters equally.
But someone had been taking from Maya while protecting Tasha.
I felt sick.
David arrived that evening.
We sat at the dining room table reviewing the records.
He pointed toward a series of transfers.
"These need investigation."
I nodded.
"Could Denise have authorized them?"
"That depends on the account permissions and how access was obtained."
I stared at the statements.
"She handled some family finances."
David nodded.
"Then we'll need to determine whether she exceeded her authority."
I leaned back.
"How could I not notice?"
David looked at me.
"You trusted your spouse."
I closed my eyes.
"But I should have checked."
He didn't argue.
And I appreciated that.
Because I already knew I'd made mistakes.
I had left too much unattended.
I had trusted Denise to treat Maya fairly.
And I had ignored signs that something wasn't right.
But I could not change the past.
I could only decide what happened next.
The following morning, I went to the jewelry dealer Monica mentioned.
The owner, Mr. Lawson, was a quiet older man.
I showed him a photograph of Angela's necklace.
He studied it.
Then nodded.
"I remember this piece."
My chest tightened.
"Do you still have it?"
He hesitated.
"I believe so."
I nearly cried.
He went into the back room.
Several minutes later, he returned with a small velvet tray.
There it was.
Angela's necklace.
The tiny diamond pendant.
The familiar gold chain.
I felt my throat tighten.
"That's it."
Mr. Lawson looked concerned.
"Is something wrong?"
I explained that the necklace had belonged to my daughter and had been sold without her permission.
He listened carefully.
Then called his manager.
After verifying the transaction and discussing the proper steps, they agreed to preserve the item while the ownership issue was resolved.
I left with documentation and a renewed determination to get it back lawfully.
When I returned home, Maya was sitting on the couch.
She looked up.
"Dad?"
I smiled gently.
"I found Mom's necklace."
Her eyes widened.
"What?"
"I found it."
She stood.
"Where?"
"At a jewelry store."
Her face changed.
She looked hurt.
"Denise sold it?"
I nodded slowly.
Tears filled her eyes.
I moved closer.
"I'm working on getting it back."
She covered her mouth.
Then she began crying.
I held her.
For a long time, neither of us spoke.
Then she whispered, "I thought I was never going to see it again."
I kissed her forehead.
"We're going to do everything we can."
That afternoon, Tasha knocked on my office door.
I looked up.
"Come in."
She stepped inside.
Her face was pale.
"Marcus, can we talk?"
I nodded.
"Of course."
She sat down.
Then looked at the floor.
"I heard you talking about Mom."
My chest tightened.
"What did you hear?"
"The money."
I nodded slowly.
She began crying.
"I didn't know."
I moved closer.
"Tasha, this isn't your fault."
She shook her head.
"But I knew Mom was buying things."
I frowned.
"What things?"
Tasha wiped her cheeks.
"Designer bags. Jewelry. Clothes."
My stomach tightened.
"Did she say where the money came from?"
Tasha nodded.
"She said you gave her extra spending money."
I closed my eyes.
Then Tasha whispered something that made my blood run cold.
"Marcus, there's something else."
I looked at her.
"What?"
She reached into her pocket.
Then placed a folded bank receipt on my desk.
I stared at it.
"What is this?"
Tasha swallowed.
"I found it in Mom's suitcase."
I unfolded the paper.
It showed a large transfer made two weeks earlier.
The destination was an unfamiliar account.
And the amount made my chest tighten.
Forty-eight thousand dollars.
I stared at the receipt.
Then at Tasha.
"Do you know what this was for?"
She shook her head.
"But I heard Mom talking on the phone."
My pulse quickened.
"What did she say?"
May you like
Tasha looked frightened.
"She said once we got to Hawaii, you wouldn't be able to stop what she'd planned."
