Chapter 7
I stared at the receipt in my hand.
Forty-eight thousand dollars.
Transferred to an account I didn't recognize.
And according to Tasha, Denise had been discussing a plan that would begin when we reached Hawaii.
I felt my stomach tighten.
"What exactly did your mother say?"
Tasha looked down.
"I didn't hear everything."
"Tell me what you remember."
She swallowed.
"She was talking to someone named Victor."
My heart pounded.
"Victor who?"
"I don't know."
I looked at the receipt again.
The destination account belonged to a consulting company.
I had never heard of it.
Tasha continued.
"Mom said the paperwork would be finished once we were out of town."
I felt cold.
"What paperwork?"
She shook her head.
"I don't know."
I leaned back.
For a moment, I stared at the wall.
The missing ticket.
The insistence that Maya remain home.
The money transfers.
The mysterious contact.
Something larger was happening.
And I needed to understand it without putting my daughters in danger.
I thanked Tasha for telling me.
Then asked her not to confront Denise.
She nodded.
"Okay."
I looked into her eyes.
"And Tasha?"
"Yes?"
"Whatever happens between your mother and me, you are not responsible."
Her eyes filled.
She nodded.
Then whispered, "Thank you."
After she left, I called David.
I forwarded the receipt and explained what Tasha overheard.
He asked me to come to his office immediately.
By late afternoon, we were reviewing documents.
David had contacted a forensic accountant.
Together, they examined the transfers and the consulting company.
The company appeared recently formed.
Its listed manager was Victor Lane.
I frowned.
"That name sounds familiar."
David looked up.
"Do you know him?"
I thought for a moment.
Then remembered.
Victor had attended a charity dinner with Denise the previous year.
She introduced him as a financial adviser.
I barely spoke with him.
He was charming.
Well dressed.
And very interested in my construction business.
My stomach tightened.
"Denise knows him."
David nodded.
"That doesn't prove wrongdoing."
"I know."
He continued.
"But the timing of the transactions raises questions."
I rubbed my forehead.
"What was the money for?"
"We need more information."
I looked toward the window.
"Can we stop anything else from being transferred?"
David nodded.
"We can review account access and take appropriate protective steps."
We contacted the relevant financial institutions.
I also requested a complete review of my business accounts.
For years, Denise had helped manage household expenses.
She had no formal role in my construction company.
But she had access to some documents and knew my schedules.
That possibility frightened me.
If someone had been using my personal information, I needed to act quickly.
The next morning, David called.
His voice was serious.
"Marcus, we've found something."
I sat straighter.
"What?"
"A property purchase agreement."
My stomach tightened.
"What property?"
"A vacation condominium in Honolulu."
I frowned.
"Why would Denise buy property there?"
David hesitated.
"The agreement lists Denise and Victor Lane as prospective purchasers."
I stared at the wall.
"And?"
"The funding documentation references accounts connected to your household."
I felt sick.
I closed my eyes.
For a moment, I couldn't breathe.
Denise had been planning more than a vacation.
She had been preparing something financial.
Something she didn't want me to know about.
I looked down at my wedding ring.
Five years.
Five years of marriage.
Five years of believing we were building a future together.
And now I was wondering whether my wife had been using my money to build a future with someone else.
But I refused to jump to conclusions.
I had learned that assumptions could hurt innocent people.
So I asked David to investigate further.
That afternoon, Denise called.
I let the phone ring twice before answering.
"Hello?"
Her voice was cold.
"Marcus, we need to talk."
I took a breath.
"Yes, we do."
She sighed.
"You're making this bigger than it needs to be."
I stared at the wall.
"Where are you?"
"At Monica's."
I nodded.
"Good."
She paused.
"What does that mean?"
"It means you're somewhere safe."
Her voice sharpened.
"Marcus, I want to come home."
I closed my eyes.
"We need to discuss that with our attorneys."
She laughed bitterly.
"Attorneys?"
"Yes."
Her tone changed.
"You're serious?"
"Very."
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she whispered, "You have no idea what you're doing."
I felt cold.
"What does that mean?"
She sighed.
"Just remember that you started this."
Then she ended the call.
I sat silently.
For the first time, I felt afraid.
Not of Denise herself.
But of what she might do next.
That evening, Maya knocked on my office door.
She was holding two mugs of tea.
"Hey, Dad."
I smiled.
"Hey, baby."
She placed one beside me.
Then sat across from my desk.
"You look tired."
I laughed softly.
"I am."
She watched me.
"Is everything okay?"
I hesitated.
Then decided to be honest without burdening her with adult details.
"Some things are difficult right now."
She nodded.
"Because of Denise?"
"Yes."
Her expression changed.
"Dad, I don't want you to be unhappy."
My heart tightened.
I moved around the desk and sat beside her.
"Sweetheart, your job isn't to make me happy."
She looked confused.
I smiled gently.
"Your job is to grow up, learn, make mistakes, and become whoever you want to be."
Her eyes filled.
"I just want us to be okay."
I hugged her.
"We will be."
She leaned against me.
Then whispered, "Can we still go somewhere this summer?"
I smiled sadly.
"Of course."
She looked up.
"Really?"
"Really."
Her face brightened.
"Even if it's just the beach for a weekend?"
I laughed.
"Baby, we can do better than that."
She smiled.
And for a moment, I felt hopeful.
Then my phone vibrated.
A message from David.
MARCUS, CALL ME IMMEDIATELY.
I stepped away from Maya and called him.
He answered on the first ring.
"Marcus, we've uncovered a signed authorization connected to the condominium."
My stomach tightened.
"What authorization?"
David took a breath.
"It appears to permit the use of funds from a family investment account."
I felt cold.
"Whose signature?"
There was a pause.
Then he said, "Yours."
I closed my eyes.
"I didn't sign anything."
"I know that's what you've told me."
I gripped the phone.
David continued.
"And Marcus, there's something worse."
My heart pounded.
"What?"
"The supporting paperwork includes a statement claiming Maya is no longer financially dependent on you."
I stared at the wall.
"She's seventeen."
"I know."
David's voice became grave.
"And there's a document that appears to authorize transferring part of her education fund."
My blood turned cold.
May you like
Someone wasn't just stealing money.
They were trying to erase my daughter's financial protection.
