Chapter 6
The next morning, Dad changed every password connected to my accounts.
He also contacted the bank, my school, and the agency that issued my passport.
Mr. Bennett explained that my personal information might have been used without permission.
I listened carefully.
For the first time, I understood that identity theft didn't only happen to adults.
Someone could use my name.
My date of birth.
My documents.
And make decisions that could follow me for years.
I felt sick.
"Will I be in trouble?" I asked.
Dad shook his head.
"No."
"But my name is on those papers."
He took my hand.
"That doesn't make them valid."
I looked at Mr. Bennett.
He nodded.
"We'll document that you never authorized the transactions."
I exhaled.
The legal process sounded overwhelming.
But at least someone was listening.
That afternoon, investigators contacted Dad.
They wanted to speak with Mom, Raymond, and several people connected to Pacific Horizon Ventures.
Dad explained that we would cooperate.
Then he looked at me.
"Maya, you don't have to tell your story to everyone."
I nodded.
"But I want to tell the truth."
He smiled sadly.
"I know you do."
I had spent my whole life trying to avoid disappointing people.
Now I was learning that telling the truth sometimes disappointed the people who wanted me to stay quiet.
Two days later, Mom came to Aunt Renee's house.
Dad had agreed to a supervised conversation.
I wasn't required to attend.
But I chose to.
I wanted answers.
Mom sat across from me in the living room.
She looked different.
No perfect hairstyle.
No expensive jewelry.
No carefully chosen outfit.
Just a tired woman wearing jeans and a plain sweater.
She looked at me.
"Maya."
I nodded.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she whispered, "I'm sorry."
I stared at her.
I had imagined hearing those words.
I thought they would make me feel better.
They didn't.
"Why did you do it?"
Mom began crying.
"I made terrible decisions."
"That isn't an answer."
She wiped her cheeks.
I could see Dad watching her carefully.
Mom took a shaky breath.
"Raymond convinced me he could make a lot of money."
I nodded.
"And?"
"He said the investment would help our family."
I looked at her.
"So you took my money?"
She lowered her head.
"Yes."
I swallowed.
"Why not ask Dad?"
"Because I knew he'd say no."
My heart tightened.
"Then you knew it was wrong."
She began crying harder.
"Yes."
I sat very still.
That admission hurt more than any excuse.
Mom hadn't been confused.
She hadn't misunderstood everything.
She knew Dad would refuse.
So she hid it.
I looked at her.
"Why did you want me to leave?"
She stared at her hands.
"Raymond said you might ask questions about the trust."
I nodded.
"So you wanted me gone."
She shook her head.
"Only temporarily."
I felt anger rising.
"Mom, I was going to miss almost a year of school."
She covered her face.
"I know."
"You were going to tell Dad I ran away."
Her shoulders shook.
"I know."
I leaned forward.
"Do you understand how scared I was?"
She looked up.
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
"I do now."
I shook my head.
"No. I don't think you do."
The room became silent.
Then I said something I had never said to my mother.
"I don't feel safe with you."
Her face crumpled.
Dad reached for my hand.
I continued.
"I don't know when you're telling the truth."
Mom nodded slowly.
"I understand."
I looked down.
"I don't hate you."
She began crying harder.
"But I can't trust you right now."
She whispered, "I know."
For the first time, she didn't argue.
Didn't blame me.
Didn't tell me I was dramatic.
She simply listened.
That mattered.
But it didn't fix everything.
After the meeting, I went outside with Tasha.
We sat on Aunt Renee's back porch.
She looked at me.
"Do you think Mom will go to jail?"
I swallowed.
"I don't know."
Tasha stared at the grass.
"I'm scared."
I moved closer.
"Me too."
She looked surprised.
"You are?"
I nodded.
"Of course."
She leaned against my shoulder.
For a while, we said nothing.
Then she whispered, "I thought if Mom liked me more, everything would be easier."
I looked at her.
"What do you mean?"
She wiped her eyes.
"She always compared us."
My chest tightened.
"Compared us how?"
"Your grades. Your friends. The way Dad talks about you."
I stared at her.
"Mom said you were the responsible one."
I looked down.
"And that made you feel bad?"
She nodded.
"Sometimes I felt like I couldn't be good enough."
My heart hurt.
I had never realized Tasha felt that way.
I wrapped my arm around her.
"You don't have to be like me."
She looked up.
"I know."
"No, really. You're funny. You're creative. You're good at things I'm terrible at."
She laughed through her tears.
"Like dancing?"
I smiled.
"Especially dancing."
She hugged me.
"I'm sorry I smiled when Mom said the trip was canceled."
I swallowed.
"That really hurt."
She nodded.
"I know."
I looked at her.
"But I'm glad you told the truth."
She smiled weakly.
For the first time, I felt like my sister and I were on the same side.
Later that evening, Dad returned from a meeting with Mr. Bennett.
He looked exhausted.
I was helping Aunt Renee prepare dinner when he entered.
"Maya, can we talk?"
My stomach tightened.
"Did something happen?"
He nodded.
We sat at the kitchen table.
Dad opened a folder.
"Investigators found evidence that Raymond transferred money out of the investment company."
I leaned forward.
"Where?"
"Several accounts."
"Can we get it back?"
"Some of it may be recoverable."
I nodded.
Dad continued.
"But we also found something else."
I felt cold.
"What?"
"Raymond had been using the trust documents to approach other investors."
I stared at him.
"What does that mean?"
"He was presenting your trust as proof that his company had financial backing."
My stomach twisted.
"Without asking me?"
"Yes."
I shook my head.
"Why would anyone believe him?"
Dad looked sad.
"Because the documents appeared official."
I stared at the folder.
Then he handed me a photograph.
It showed Raymond standing beside a man in an expensive suit.
Behind them was a banner.
PACIFIC HORIZON VENTURES.
But that wasn't what caught my attention.
On the table beside them was a framed photograph.
My photograph.
A picture taken at my fifteenth birthday party.
I felt sick.
"Why is my picture there?"
Dad looked devastated.
"That's what we're trying to find out."
I stared at the image.
My face.
My name.
My future.
All being used by people I barely knew.
Then Dad said something that made my blood run cold.
"Maya, Raymond told investors you were the heir to a much larger family fortune."
I stared at him.
"What fortune?"
Dad hesitated.
Then whispered, "Your grandmother left something else."
My heart stopped.
"Something else?"
May you like
He nodded.
"And I didn't know about it until today."
