Chapter 2: The Name on the Account
I stepped into an empty consultation room before answering.
“Hello?””
For several seconds, there was nothing but static.
Then an older man's voice said, “David?””
“Yes.””
“This is Richard Hale.””
I leaned against the wall.
“I know.””
“I wasn't sure you'd answer.””
“Why are you calling me?””
Richard exhaled slowly.
“Because your mother asked me to.””
My eyes closed.
“About Vanessa?””
“No.””
“Then what?””
“Your father.””
I opened my eyes.
My father's name hadn't been spoken with that tone in years.
Like there was something unfinished.
Something buried.
“What about him?””
Richard lowered his voice.
“Did your mother show you the bank statement?””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“Yes.””
“Then you need to listen carefully.””
I glanced through the glass panel in the door.
Mom was sitting alone in the waiting room.
Her hands rested on her hospital bag.
She looked tired.
Small.
Nothing like the woman who had raised me.
“Go ahead.””
Richard said, “Your father didn't leave your mother with much cash when he died.””
“I know.””
“No, David. You don't.””
I frowned.
“What are you talking about?””
“There was an investment account.””
I said nothing.
“Your father created it years before his death,” Richard continued.
“It was meant for your mother.””
“How much?””
Richard hesitated.
“About two hundred and forty thousand dollars.””
My stomach dropped.
“Two hundred and forty thousand?””
“Yes.””
“Why didn't I know about this?””
“Because your father instructed me not to tell you unless your mother needed it.””
“And she did.””
“She did.””
I looked at the bank statement.
“Then where is it?””
Richard was silent.
“Richard?””
“Your mother transferred most of it three years ago.””
“To whom?””
He didn't answer immediately.
I already knew.
“Vanessa.””
“No,” Richard said.
“Not directly.””
I pushed away from the wall.
“Then where?””
“A company called Bellrose Holdings.””
The name meant nothing.
“What is Bellrose Holdings?””
“That's the problem.””
My voice hardened.
“Richard, I need you to stop speaking in riddles.””
“I've been trying to protect your mother.””
“And I've been trying to protect her too.””
“No, David.””
His voice became firm.
“You've been protecting Vanessa.””
The words landed like a slap.
I looked through the glass again.
Mom was staring at the floor.
“Tell me everything.””
Richard took a breath.
“Three years ago, Vanessa came to your mother asking for a loan.””
“I know about that.””
“You know about the mortgage payment.””
“Yes.””
“That wasn't all.””
I felt my chest tighten.
“What else?””
“She asked your mother to invest in her boutique.””
I remembered that conversation.
Vanessa had told me her business needed cash.
Mom had smiled and said, Family helps family.
I had thought she'd loaned Vanessa a few thousand dollars.
Richard continued.
“She transferred forty-eight thousand dollars.””
I stared at the wall.
“Forty-eight?””
“Yes.””
“And the rest?””
“Another sixty thousand went to Bellrose Holdings.””
“Whose company is that?””
Richard paused.
“That's what you need to find out.””
I hung up ten minutes later with more questions than answers.
When I returned to the waiting room, Mom was standing.
“Are you all right?”” she asked.
“No.””
She gave me a sad smile.
“I knew you wouldn't be.””
I walked over and took her hospital bag.
“Why didn't you tell me about the investment account?””
“Because your father made me promise.””
“He's been dead nine years.””
“I know.””
“Mom, you can't protect me from something that already happened.””
She looked at me.
“I wasn't protecting you.””
“Then what?””
“I was protecting the last good memory you had of your father.””
That silenced me.
We walked toward the exit.
Outside, the afternoon sun was beginning to sink.
Mr. Bellamy was waiting beside his car.
“You two ready?”” he asked.
Mom smiled.
“Yes. Thank you again.””
He opened the passenger door.
As I helped Mom inside, my phone rang.
Vanessa.
I declined it.
Then a text appeared.
*You need to come home. Now.*
I ignored it.
Another message arrived.
*I can explain everything.*
Then another.
*Please, David.*
I stared at the screen.
Mr. Bellamy noticed.
“Trouble at home?””
I slipped the phone into my pocket.
“You could say that.””
Mom touched my wrist.
“Don't go back tonight.””
I looked at her.
“What?””
“Stay somewhere else.””
“Why?””
She looked frightened.
“Because Vanessa knows about Richard.””
My blood went cold.
“How would she know?””
Mom shook her head.
“I don't know.””
Mr. Bellamy started the engine.
I climbed into the back seat beside Mom.
As we pulled away from the hospital, I watched our neighborhood appear in the distance.
I had lived in that house for twelve years.
I had believed it was my safe place.
But when we reached the intersection, I saw something that made me sit forward.
Our SUV was parked outside the house.
And Vanessa wasn't alone.
A black sedan was sitting behind it.
A man in a gray suit stood beside the driver's door.
He looked directly at Mr. Bellamy's car as we passed.
May you like
Then he raised his phone.
And took a picture.
