Chapter 3: The Woman in the Bank Photograph
Vanessa tightened her fingers around Brianna’s arm.
Brianna winced, but her mother did not let go.
“Tell him you’re confused,” Vanessa said.
“You were upset about the bag.”
“I’m not confused,” Brianna whispered.
Dad held up the phone.
“The transfer was for forty-eight thousand dollars.
Where is Emma’s money?”
Vanessa finally released Brianna.
“It was family money, Daniel.
I moved it to protect all of us.”
“Protect us from what?” I asked.
“From your father’s poor decisions.”
Dad stepped between Vanessa and me.
“That account came from Emma’s mother.
You knew that before we married.”
Vanessa’s mouth tightened.
“And you have spent five years treating Emma like the only child in this house.”
“You burned her graduation dress,” Dad said.
“Then you emptied her college account.”
“I didn’t burn anything.”
Brianna looked at her mother.
“You handed me the lighter.”
Vanessa spun toward her.
“Be very careful.”
“Is that a warning?” Dad asked.
“It’s advice.
Brianna is emotional, and emotional girls say foolish things.”
I took the phone from Dad and enlarged the bank image.
Vanessa stood at the counter wearing my blue coat.
Brianna was beside her, holding something small and white.
“That’s my driver’s license,” I said.
Brianna covered her face.
“Mom took it from your desk.”
Vanessa reached for the phone, but Dad caught her wrist.
“Don’t.”
“Take your hand off me.”
“Then stop reaching for evidence.”
Brianna sank onto the patio bench.
“She said the bank needed me there because we looked enough alike.”
“You signed Emma’s name?” I asked.
“No.
Mom signed it.”
Vanessa pointed toward the house.
“Go upstairs, Brianna.”
“No,” Dad said.
“She stays.”
Vanessa gave a cold laugh.
“You’re all acting as if Emma is penniless.
She has you.
Brianna has nobody but me.”
“She had a home here,” I said.
“You ruined that.”
“You always wanted us gone.”
“I wanted you to stop taking my things.”
Vanessa stepped closer.
“Name one thing I took before today.”
“My mother’s pearl earrings.”
Dad turned sharply.
“What did you say?”
“They disappeared after Vanessa wore them to your anniversary dinner.
She told me I must have misplaced them.”
Vanessa folded her arms.
“Those earrings were a gift from my husband.”
“They belonged to my wife,” Dad said.
“I gave them to Emma after the funeral.”
For the first time, Vanessa had no quick answer.
Brianna slowly looked up.
“Mom sold them,” she said.
“She told me they were hers.”
Dad’s phone rang.
The screen showed the bank’s fraud department, and he put the call on speaker.
“Mr.
Carter?” a woman asked.
“This is Ms.
Reeves.
We froze the receiving account, but there’s a second matter you need to know about.”
“What second matter?”
“The transfer request included a notarized authorization bearing your signature.”
Dad stared at Vanessa.
“I never signed one.”
Ms.
Reeves lowered her voice.
“Then you should also check the ownership records for your house.
The same notary witnessed a property document filed six weeks ago.”
Vanessa’s face changed.
She backed toward the patio door.
Dad blocked her path.
“What did you file?”
Vanessa lifted her chin.
“Something I should have received the day I married you.”
Ms.
Reeves spoke again.
“Mr.
Carter, according to the document, you signed over half your home to Vanessa last month.”
May you like
Dad looked at the house, then at his wife.
“I didn’t sign that either.”
