Chapter 4: The Account With My Mother's Name
For several seconds, nobody moved.
My mother stood beside the front door, one hand pressed against her mouth. Marcus was staring at her as though she'd just betrayed him. Tasha held her phone in both hands, rereading the bank notification.
And I stood between the three people who were supposed to make up my family, realizing that I might not have known any of them.
"Mom," I finally whispered.
"What account?""
Nia looked at me.
"Maya, sweetheart, this isn't what you think.""
I almost laughed.
It was the same sentence she'd used whenever Tasha complained about being treated differently.
Whenever Marcus dismissed her questions.
Whenever something happened that made our family look less perfect than the photographs on social media.
It was always something else.
It was never what we thought.
But this time, I wanted an answer.
"Then explain it.""
Marcus stepped toward my mother.
"Don't say anything.""
Tasha raised her phone.
"Seventeen thousand five hundred dollars went into an account under her name. I want to know why.""
Marcus pointed at her.
"Put that phone down.""
"No.""
"I said put it down!""
"Stop telling me what to do with my own money!""
My mother suddenly began crying.
"Please, everyone, can we go inside?""
I looked at her.
"Why?""
"Because the neighbors are watching.""
That was when I realized something.
Even now, with the possibility of stolen money hanging over our heads, Mom was more worried about the neighbors seeing us argue than about what had happened to Tasha.
I shook my head.
"I'm done protecting your image.""
Marcus grabbed the keys to the Highlander from his pocket.
"Everybody needs to calm down. I can explain the transactions.""
Tasha looked at him.
"Then explain.""
He hesitated.
"The money was temporarily moved.""
"Moved where?""
"Into an account we could access quickly.""
"Why?""
"Because your trust had restrictions.""
Tasha stared at him.
"Restrictions that were supposed to protect my money.""
Marcus exhaled sharply.
"I was trying to help this family.""
Tasha's eyes filled.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because you would have overreacted.""
She looked down at the phone.
"Seventeen thousand five hundred dollars is not an overreaction.""
My mother wiped her cheeks.
"That money wasn't stolen.""
I turned toward her.
"Then why did you say nobody would find the account?""
She froze.
Marcus closed his eyes.
It was a small reaction, but I noticed it.
He knew she'd said too much.
"Mom," I continued, "what did you mean?""
Nia looked between us.
Finally, she lowered her hand.
"Marcus told me he needed somewhere to keep money temporarily because the business was having problems.""
"What business problems?"" I asked.
"Cash flow.""
"Then why use Tasha's inheritance?""
"He said the money would be replaced.""
Tasha let out a broken laugh.
"When?""
My mother looked at her.
"Soon.""
"You've been saying that for months, haven't you?""
Nia didn't respond.
Tasha nodded slowly.
"That's why you told me there was no money for college.""
"Tasha, please.""
"You told me to work harder. You told me I needed to learn to stand on my own feet.""
"I was trying to teach you responsibility.""
Tasha looked at her.
"With my own money?""
My mother began sobbing.
Marcus suddenly stepped forward.
"That's enough. Nia, go inside.""
But Mom didn't move.
Instead, she looked at Tasha.
"I didn't know he was going to use that much.""
Tasha stared at her.
"How much did you think he would use?""
Nia looked down.
"I don't know.""
"Did you sign anything?""
My mother's silence answered the question.
Tasha's face changed.
"You signed something?""
Marcus snapped.
"She signed a document to help me manage a financial emergency. That's all.""
"What document?"" I demanded.
"Business paperwork.""
"Why was Tasha's money involved?""
Marcus pointed at me.
"Stay out of this.""
I stepped closer.
"Stop saying that. You used my name on a car purchase. You used my birthday to cover up what you did. You made me part of this whether I wanted it or not.""
He stared at me.
For a moment, I thought he might shout.
Instead, he turned toward the house.
"Everybody inside. Now.""
Nobody followed him.
Then Tasha's phone rang.
The screen displayed an unfamiliar number.
She answered.
"Hello?""
A woman's voice came through.
"Is this Miss Tasha Johnson?""
"Yes.""
"My name is Denise Carter. I'm calling from the trust administration department. We've received a request concerning your account.""
Tasha looked at Mr. Reynolds's business card.
"Is this about the freeze?""
"Partly. We also need to verify whether you personally authorized a transfer request submitted three weeks ago.""
Tasha frowned.
"What transfer?""
"The request involved a withdrawal of twenty-two thousand dollars.""
My stomach dropped.
Tasha looked directly at Marcus.
"No. I didn't authorize that.""
There was a pause.
"Thank you. We will document your statement. Miss Johnson, do you recognize the name listed as the person submitting the request?""
Tasha closed her eyes.
"Who?""
The woman answered.
"Your father, Marcus Johnson.""
Marcus turned away.
The call continued.
"There's another issue. The authorization form contains a signature that appears to be yours.""
Tasha went pale.
"What?""
"The signature was submitted electronically.""
Tasha looked at Marcus.
He was already walking toward the house.
"Ma'am," she whispered into the phone, "I never signed anything.""
"We understand. Please preserve any relevant messages or correspondence. Our investigation team will contact you.""
The call ended.
Tasha lowered her phone.
I looked at her.
"Someone forged your signature?""
She nodded.
My mother started crying harder.
"Marcus, tell them what happened!""
He spun around.
"Don't you dare put this on me!""
Nia stepped backward.
"You told me everything was legal!""
"Because it was!""
"Then why did you need my signature?""
Marcus said nothing.
Tasha suddenly looked at my mother.
"What did you sign?""
Nia shook her head.
"I don't remember.""
"Mom!""
"It was a document Marcus brought home. He said it was necessary to move the money temporarily.""
"Did you sign my name?""
My mother began shaking her head.
"No. No, sweetheart.""
"Did you?""
"I didn't know what he was doing!""
Tasha looked devastated.
I moved beside her.
"Let's call Mr. Reynolds.""
Marcus laughed bitterly.
"Go ahead. Call him. You think some lawyer is going to come here and destroy this family?""
Tasha looked at him.
"You already destroyed it.""
She dialed the attorney.
He answered immediately.
"Hello, Tasha.""
"Mr. Reynolds, someone used my electronic signature to request another withdrawal.""
There was a brief silence.
"How much?""
"Twenty-two thousand dollars.""
"Was the transfer completed?""
"I don't know.""
"All right. Listen carefully. Do not sign anything else.
Do not give anyone access to your phone or banking information. I'm contacting the trust administrator.""
Tasha swallowed.
"There's something else.""
"What is it?""
"There's an account under my stepmother's name. Seventeen thousand five hundred dollars was transferred into it.""
Mr. Reynolds became quiet.
Then he asked a question that made my blood run cold.
"Did you say Nia Johnson?""
"Yes.""
The attorney exhaled.
"I was afraid of that.""
Tasha looked at me.
"What does that mean?""
Mr. Reynolds answered.
"Three weeks ago, I received an anonymous envelope containing copies of several financial documents. One of them referenced an account belonging to Nia.""
"Who sent it?""
"I don't know. There was no return address.""
"What's in it?""
"A record of transfers from your trust. And a handwritten note suggesting that your stepmother may have been used as an intermediary.""
My mother covered her mouth.
Marcus's face went blank.
Then Mr. Reynolds added:
"There's also a document that suggests someone has been trying to sell an asset belonging to your late mother.""
Tasha's voice dropped.
"What asset?""
"The property your mother owned before she died.""
Tasha stopped breathing.
I looked at her.
"Which property?""
Mr. Reynolds answered.
"The small house on Willow Creek Road. The one your mother left to you.""
Tasha stared at Marcus.
"That house is still mine?""
"Yes.""
She looked toward our stepfather.
And Marcus finally lost his composure.
"Hang up that phone!""
He lunged toward her.
But this time, Tasha didn't step backward.
May you like
She held the phone against her ear and said:
"Mr. Reynolds, I think you need to come here immediately.""
