Chapter 3: The Secret Her Mother Took to the Grave
Tasha read the document three times.
The first time, she looked confused.
The second time, she looked frightened.
By the third, she was crying again.
"What does this mean?"" she whispered.
Mr. Reynolds leaned forward.
"Your mother had originally named Marcus as the primary beneficiary of her life insurance policy. Shortly before her death, she changed that arrangement.""
Tasha stared at the paper.
"To who?""
"To you.""
"Me?""
"Yes. You were listed as the sole beneficiary of the policy, with the proceeds designated for your trust.""
I looked at the attorney.
"How much was the policy worth?""
"Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.""
Tasha's mouth opened.
"But the trust only started with one hundred and eighty thousand.""
"Your mother's savings and other assets were distributed separately.""
"Where did the rest go?""
"Some went toward medical expenses and estate costs. The remainder was placed into the trust.""
Tasha looked down.
"Why did she change the beneficiary?""
Mr. Reynolds hesitated.
"Her private instructions mentioned a disagreement with Marcus.""
"What kind of disagreement?""
"I don't know the full details. I wasn't present when they had that conversation.""
Tasha gripped the letter.
"Did she leave anything else?""
The attorney nodded.
"She asked me to keep a record of all changes made to the trust and any attempts to transfer control.""
I frowned.
"Why would she expect that?""
Mr. Reynolds opened the folder again.
"Because there was an incident several months before her death.""
Tasha sat forward.
"What incident?""
"Marcus requested access to a portion of the insurance proceeds before the policy had been finalized.""
Tasha looked confused.
"Why?""
"He claimed he needed the money to cover medical expenses and household debts.""
"Was that true?""
"Your mother questioned some of the figures. She later discovered that several expenses listed in his request had already been paid.""
I stared at the attorney.
"Are you saying Marcus lied to her?""
"I'm saying she became concerned enough to change the beneficiary arrangements.""
Tasha lowered her head.
For a few seconds, she didn't speak.
Then she asked the question I had been thinking about.
"Did my mother know he might take my money?""
Mr. Reynolds looked at her.
"She was worried he might eventually try.""
Tasha let out a shaky breath.
"Then why did she marry him?""
The attorney didn't have an answer.
Neither did I.
We sat in silence while the afternoon sun slipped across the windshield.
Finally, Tasha wiped her cheeks.
"I want everything.""
"Everything?"" Mr. Reynolds asked.
"Every bank statement. Every transfer. Every document he signed. I want to know where my mother's money went.""
He nodded.
"I'll arrange it.""
"And I want the dealership contacted.""
"That's already underway.""
Tasha looked at him.
"Can they stop the car from being registered?""
"Potentially, depending on the purchase documents and the payment dispute.""
I raised my hand slightly.
"Can I help?""
Mr. Reynolds turned toward me.
"How?""
"I can give a statement saying I never asked for the car and never agreed to use Tasha's trust money.""
Tasha immediately shook her head.
"Maya, you don't have to get involved.""
"Yes, I do.""
"No, you don't.""
I looked directly at her.
"I spent seventeen years accepting things while you were told you couldn't have them. I'm not going to pretend I don't have a part in this anymore.""
She stared at me.
Then she nodded.
Mr. Reynolds handed us his business card.
"Don't confront Marcus about the financial investigation. Let me handle the formal communication.""
Tasha took the card.
"Thank you.""
He looked at her for a long moment.
"Your mother would be proud of you.""
That sentence made her cry harder.
We left the attorney's car and walked toward the sidewalk.
Our house was still visible at the end of the street.
The neighbors had mostly gone inside.
The balloons had been removed.
The birthday music had stopped.
But the black Highlander remained in the driveway.
Marcus was standing beside it, speaking into his phone.
When he saw us, he ended the call.
"Where have you been?""
Tasha didn't answer.
He looked at me.
"Maya, get inside. We need to talk.""
I shook my head.
"Not without Tasha.""
He sighed dramatically.
"Can you two stop acting like I'm some kind of criminal?""
Tasha stepped forward.
"Where's my money?""
Marcus looked toward the road.
"Not here.""
"Where is it?""
"Inside.""
"Tell me now.""
He clenched his jaw.
"I already explained. It was a family expense.""
"Why did you use my trust?""
"Because I was handling the finances.""
"You weren't supposed to spend it on someone else's car.""
Marcus looked at me.
"Don't you have anything better to do than interfere in matters between a father and his daughter?""
I stepped beside Tasha.
"She asked you a question.""
He pointed toward me.
"This has nothing to do with you.""
"It became my business when you put the car in my name.""
My mother appeared in the doorway.
"Maya, come inside. Please.""
I looked at her.
"Did you know where the money came from?""
She didn't answer.
"Mom?""
Nia glanced at Marcus.
Then back at me.
"I knew he was using some of the account.""
Tasha's eyes widened.
"Some?""
Mom quickly added, "He told me it was permitted.""
"Did you know about the car?""
Nia swallowed.
"Yes.""
Tasha took a step backward.
"You knew?""
"I thought it was an arrangement between your father and the financial advisor.""
"Did you ask?""
Mom's expression hardened.
"Don't accuse me of things you don't understand.""
Tasha shook her head.
"You watched me work two jobs.""
"That's not fair.""
"You watched me ask for money for college.""
"Because we had other expenses!""
"You watched Maya get a phone, clothes, parties, and now a car.""
My mother raised her voice.
"Your sister is seventeen! She deserves to enjoy her birthday!""
Tasha stared at her.
"And I didn't deserve anything?""
Mom opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
Marcus stepped between them.
"That's enough. We're going inside.""
Tasha didn't move.
"I'm not coming back until my money is safe.""
He laughed.
"You're being ridiculous.""
She pulled out her phone.
"I already called the bank.""
His expression changed.
"What?""
"I asked them to freeze the remaining trust funds while Mr. Reynolds investigates.""
Marcus took a step toward her.
"You had no right to do that.""
Tasha looked directly into his eyes.
"It's my money.""
He reached for her phone.
I moved between them.
"Don't.""
Marcus stopped.
For a moment, I thought he might push past me.
Instead, he looked at my mother.
"Are you going to let them speak to me this way?""
Mom's eyes filled.
"Marcus, maybe we should just talk about this.""
He turned sharply.
"Stay out of it.""
I had never seen my mother look so small.
Then Marcus pointed toward the Highlander.
"Maya, you want the truth? Fine. I spent that money because I thought it was the right thing to do.
You needed transportation. This family needed transportation. Everyone benefits.""
"Then why didn't you ask Tasha?""
"Because she's always difficult about money!""
Tasha flinched.
I stared at him.
"She's difficult because it's hers.""
He shook his head.
"You have no idea what I've done for this family.""
Tasha's voice was quiet.
"You're right. I don't.""
Marcus turned toward her.
"What?""
"I don't know what you've done with my mother's money.""
He looked away.
And that was when I noticed something.
A small white paper was lying on the passenger seat of the Highlander.
It had the dealership's logo at the top.
I walked closer.
Marcus immediately moved in front of me.
"Don't touch that.""
I stopped.
"What's on it?""
"None of your business.""
Tasha came beside me.
"What's on the seat?""
Marcus grabbed the paper and folded it.
Too late.
I'd already seen the heading.
*VEHICLE PURCHASE AGREEMENT.*
Below it were the names of the buyers.
Marcus Johnson.
Nia Johnson.
And Maya Johnson.
I frowned.
"Why is Mom listed as a buyer?""
Marcus slipped the document into his pocket.
"Because she's my wife.""
Tasha looked confused.
Then she noticed the bottom of the paper.
"Wait.""
She leaned closer.
"What's that number?""
I looked.
There was a small handwritten figure beside the financing section.
$31,200.
The car hadn't been paid for entirely with Tasha's trust.
There was a loan.
I turned toward Marcus.
"Did you finance the rest?""
He said nothing.
Tasha looked at the paper again.
"How much did you take from my account?""
Mr. Reynolds had said forty-nine thousand eight hundred dollars.
But the purchase agreement showed a different arrangement.
I suddenly understood why the attorney had been concerned about multiple transactions.
"Marcus," I said, "what happened to the rest of the money?""
He stared at me.
Then he made a mistake.
He looked directly at Tasha and said:
"Your mother left enough money to take care of you. I used what I needed. You should be grateful I didn't let it sit there doing nothing.""
Tasha went completely still.
"How much did you take?""
He rubbed his face.
"Don't start.""
"How much?""
"More than you know.""
The words hung in the air.
My mother covered her mouth.
I felt the ground shift beneath my feet.
Tasha took out her phone.
"Mr. Reynolds needs to know that.""
Marcus suddenly lunged toward her.
"Give me that phone!""
I grabbed his arm.
"Stop!""
He pulled away so violently that I stumbled backward.
Tasha screamed.
And at that exact moment, a notification appeared on her phone.
It was an email from the bank.
The subject line read:
*URGENT: ADDITIONAL ACCOUNT ACTIVITY DETECTED.*
Tasha opened it.
Her eyes moved across the screen.
Then she looked at Marcus.
"There's another transfer.""
He stopped moving.
Tasha's voice shook.
"Seventeen thousand five hundred dollars.""
I stared at her.
"Where did it go?""
She slowly turned the phone toward us.
The recipient's name appeared beneath the amount.
It wasn't Marcus's business.
It wasn't the dealership.
It wasn't even an account belonging to our family.
It was a personal account registered under my mother's name.
Nia Johnson.
My mother stepped backward.
Marcus turned toward her.
And for the first time that afternoon, he looked genuinely terrified.
"Marcus," Mom whispered, "you said nobody would ever find that account.""
Tasha stared at her.
I couldn't breathe.
Because suddenly, I understood something far worse than what we'd originally discovered.
May you like
Marcus hadn't acted alone.
And my mother had just admitted it.
