Chapter 3 - THE ACCOUNT
Sarah heard the words.
But her brain refused to accept them.
“Say that again.”
Evelyn looked almost relieved.
Like she had been waiting months to finally hurt someone with the truth.
“Your inheritance.”
Mark interrupted.
“She doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”
Evelyn laughed.
“Oh, really?”
“Evelyn.”
“No. You wanted me to keep quiet while you stood there pretending I’m crazy?”
Mark stepped toward her.
The police officer blocked him.
Evelyn pointed at Mark.
“He moved the money.”
Sarah’s knees weakened.
“How?”
“You signed something.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“I never signed away my father’s money.”
Mark finally spoke.
“You signed a transfer authorization.”
Sarah looked at him.
“When?”
“After the funeral.”
Her mind raced.
After the funeral.
She had barely slept.
Barely eaten.
She remembered Mark placing papers in front of her at the kitchen island.
Insurance forms.
Bank documents.
Tax papers.
At least, that was what he told her.
“You buried it in paperwork.”
Mark shook his head.
“You knew what you signed.”
“You told me they were documents for the mortgage.”
“You should’ve read them.”
The cruelty of it stunned her.
Not guilt.
Not regret.
Cruelty.
Sarah whispered, “My father trusted you.”
Mark’s expression remained hard.
“Your father hated me.”
“Because he knew what you were.”
“That old man controlled you.”
“He protected me.”
“He controlled everyone with money.”
Sarah took a step toward him.
“And you stole it after he died.”
“I invested it.”
“With your mistress?”
“That wasn’t the plan.”
Evelyn snorted.
“Tell her about Phoenix.”
Mark closed his eyes.
Sarah looked at Evelyn.
“What’s Phoenix?”
Mark said, “Nothing.”
Evelyn’s smile widened.
“It’s a house.”
Sarah’s stomach dropped.
“Whose house?”
“Mine.”
Sarah stared.
“A house?”
“Five bedrooms. Pool. Gated neighborhood.”
“You bought her a house?”
Mark snapped.
“It was an investment property.”
“With my inheritance?”
Nobody answered.
That answer was enough.
Sarah’s hands began shaking.
Her father had worked forty-three years.
He had lived in the same modest home for three decades.
He fixed his own truck.
He hated wasting money.
And before cancer took his voice, he had squeezed Sarah’s hand and whispered, “Make sure Lily always has choices.”
That money wasn’t supposed to buy Evelyn a swimming pool.
It was supposed to protect Lily.
Sarah wiped her eyes.
“Officer, I want to file every report I legally can.”
Mark laughed bitterly.
“You think the police are going to solve a marital dispute?”
Sarah turned.
“No. But the forensic accountant will.”
Mark’s smile disappeared.
Sarah reached into her purse and pulled out her phone.
“I already called one.”
Mark stared at her.
“When?”
“Three weeks ago.”
For the first time, Sarah saw real fear on his face.
She had discovered one unauthorized transfer.
Only $8,900.
Mark blamed a banking error.
Sarah pretended to believe him.
Then she started digging quietly.
Mark had no idea.
Until tonight.
Sarah continued.
“And I sent copies of everything I found to my father’s attorney.”
Mark lunged for her phone.
The officer grabbed him.
“Sir!”
Lily screamed.
“Daddy!”
Sarah pulled Lily back.
Mark fought the officer for half a second before realizing what he was doing.
Then he stopped.
Too late.
Everybody had seen it.
Sarah’s heart pounded.
The older officer looked at Mark differently now.
“Sir, put your hands where I can see them.”
Mark obeyed.
Evelyn moved toward the door again.
Sarah noticed the blue envelope still inside her bag.
“My father’s letter.”
Evelyn stopped.
“What about it?”
“I want it.”
Evelyn shook her head.
“You can have it when this is over.”
“No.”
Evelyn’s eyes turned cold.
“You may not want it.”
Sarah stared at her.
“Why?”
“Because your father knew more than you think.”
“About Mark?”
Evelyn shook her head.
“About you.”
Sarah felt a chill run through her.
“What does that mean?”
Evelyn slowly pulled the envelope from her purse.
She held it between two fingers.
Then she said, “Your father didn’t leave you three hundred eighty thousand dollars.”
Sarah frowned.
“That’s exactly what the will says.”
Evelyn smiled.
“That’s what the first will says.”
May you like
And Mark suddenly shouted—
“EVELYN, SHUT YOUR MOUTH!”
