Chapter 2: The Money That Disappeared
Malcolm didn’t answer the phone.
Not immediately.
He just stared at the screen as it continued to vibrate in his hand.
The name that had once meant family now looked like a warning.
“Tasha,” I whispered.
He nodded.
“She knows.””
“Knows what?””
“That I found something.””
The phone stopped ringing.
A few seconds later, a message appeared.
Malcolm opened it.
I watched his eyes move across the screen.
Then his jaw tightened.
“What did she say?””
He handed me the phone.
The message was short.
We need to talk before you make any accusations.
I looked at Malcolm.
“Accusations?””
He laughed once.
But there was no humor in it.
“She already knows what I’m thinking.””
The next morning, Malcolm called Tasha and asked her to come over.
Not because he wanted a fight.
Because he wanted answers.
I knew my son.
He had spent years avoiding conflict.
He would apologize even when someone else hurt him.
But that day was different.
Because this wasn’t about him.
It was about Isaiah.
Tasha arrived around noon.
She walked through the front door wearing sunglasses and carrying an expensive-looking handbag.
She looked around the house.
Then she saw Malcolm sitting at the dining table with the folder in front of him.
Her expression changed.
“What is this?””
Malcolm didn’t stand.
“Sit down.””
She crossed her arms.
“I don’t like your tone.””
“And I don’t like finding out my son has been going to school without supplies while I’ve been sending you money every month.””
Her face tightened.
“I knew this was about money.””
“No,” Malcolm said.
“This is about Isaiah.””
Tasha looked away.
“Don’t act like you’re the perfect father.””
That sentence hurt him.
I saw it.
But he stayed calm.
“I’m not.””
He placed the broken backpack on the table.
“But I’m here now.””
Tasha looked at it.
For a second, something almost like guilt crossed her face.
Then it disappeared.
“I’ve had expenses.””
Malcolm opened the folder.
“School expenses?””
“Yes.””
“Then why did the school call me and say Isaiah hasn’t had supplies for months?””
She didn’t answer.
“Why did his teacher tell me he’s been skipping lunch sometimes?””
“That’s not true.””
“Then explain it.””
Silence.
The kind of silence that tells you everything before anyone speaks.
I stepped closer.
“Tasha, what happened?””
She sighed.
“I was overwhelmed.””
Malcolm stared at her.
“Overwhelmed?””
“Yes.””
“With what?””
Her eyes flashed.
“With everything.””
But Malcolm shook his head.
“No. That’s not enough.””
He pointed at the statements.
“You asked me for money for Isaiah. You said it was for him.””
“It was.””
“Then where did it go?””
She looked toward the window.
“I needed things too.””
There it was.
The truth.
Not all of it.
But enough.
Malcolm leaned back.
“What things?””
Tasha didn’t respond.
“Tell me.””
Her voice became defensive.
“I bought some clothes.””
“For you?””
“No.””
“Then why are there charges from beauty stores?””
Her face changed.
“Are you checking every purchase I make now?””
“No,” Malcolm said.
“I’m checking why my son has a broken backpack while you’re spending money I gave you for him.””
The room went silent.
Then Tasha stood.
“I knew you would do this.””
“Do what?””
“Make me look like a bad mother.””
Malcolm looked at her.
“I didn’t make Isaiah’s empty backpack.””
That sentence broke something.
Tasha grabbed her purse.
“I’m leaving.””
“No.””
She stopped.
Malcolm’s voice was calm.
“I’m not letting you walk away from this.””
For the first time, she looked nervous.
“You don’t get to control me.””
“No.””
He picked up the folder.
“But I do get to protect my son.””
Tasha stared at him.
Then she said something that changed everything.
“You think you know the whole story?””
Malcolm frowned.
“What does that mean?””
She walked toward the door.
“It means you should read the letter before you judge me.””
My heart started pounding.
“What letter?”” I asked.
Tasha didn’t turn around.
“The one Isaiah found.””
The door closed.
Malcolm stood there frozen.
A minute later, he ran upstairs.
I followed.
He opened Isaiah’s desk drawer.
Inside was a folded piece of paper.
The handwriting was messy.
Childlike.
On the front were four words:
*For Dad, when he knows.*
Malcolm opened it carefully.
His face changed as he read.
I watched his eyes move across the page.
Then he sat down.
“What does it say?”” I asked.
He couldn’t answer at first.
Finally, he whispered:
“Isaiah knew.””
“Knew what?””
Malcolm looked at me.
“Knew something was wrong.””
He handed me the letter.
The first sentence made my blood run cold.
Dad, I didn’t tell you because Mom said you would leave us if you found out.
I looked at Malcolm.
“What did she tell him?””
He kept reading.
And then he stopped.
Because at the bottom of the letter was a name.
A name neither of us expected.
A name connected to every missing dollar.
Malcolm whispered it.
And suddenly, the mystery became much bigger than Tasha.
“Mom…”
I looked at him.
“Who is this?”” he asked.
I stared at the name written on the paper.
May you like
Because I knew exactly who it was.
And I knew Malcolm was not ready for the truth.
