Chapter 5 - My Brother Recognized the Name on the Statement
Daniel spent the next hour investigating Northbridge Consulting.
He called a colleague who worked in accounting, checked public business records, and searched old emails. Every new detail seemed to make him more confused.
Finally, he leaned back in his chair.
“I know who registered this company.”
“Who?”
“A man named Victor Lane. He was an adviser who approached my business two years ago.”
“Did you work with him?”
“No. He wanted a fee upfront, promised ridiculous returns, and couldn't explain what services he'd provide. I turned him down.”
He searched his phone again.
“Dad met with him, though. I remember because Dad asked me whether Victor seemed trustworthy.”
I stared at the transaction.
“So your father sent money from Noah's account to a company run by a man you refused to work with?”
“That's what it looks like.”
“And your mother knew?”
Daniel looked at the documents, his face pale.
“I don't know yet.”
He called our father.
Richard answered on the third ring.
“What is it? Your mother is very upset about your sister.”
Daniel's eyes met mine.
“I'm looking at Noah's account.”
Silence.
Then our father said, “You have no business involving yourself in this.”
“Eighty-six thousand dollars is missing.”
“You don't understand the arrangement.”
“Then explain it.”
“Our family finances are complicated.”
“It's a child's account, Dad. What could possibly be complicated about taking money that doesn't belong to you?”
Our father lowered his voice.
“Your sister has filled your head with nonsense. She's always had trouble managing her emotions. If you get involved, you'll make things worse for everyone.”
Daniel's jaw tightened.
“Did you take money from Noah?”
“We borrowed it. There is a difference.”
“Did Noah know?”
“Noah is eight years old. He doesn't know anything about money.”
“He saw the folder.”
A pause followed.
Then our father said something that made Daniel go completely still.
“That boy should have learned to keep his mouth shut.”
Daniel ended the call without another word.
For several seconds, he stared at his phone as though it had become something poisonous.
“He admitted it,” I whispered.
“He admitted they borrowed it.”
“Without permission.”
Daniel nodded.
Then his phone rang again.
Our mother.
He answered and placed the call on speaker.
“Daniel, your father tells me you've been asking inappropriate questions.”
“Where did the money go, Mom?”
“Don't speak to me like that.”
“Was it used to help my business?”
“Your business was a family emergency.”
“Was it Noah's money?”
“You were drowning. Your father and I helped you.”
“You told me it was your savings.”
“We didn't want you to worry.”
I could hear her shifting the conversation, turning the accusation into a discussion of sacrifices. It was a trick I knew well. My mother never answered the question that made her uncomfortable. She explained how much she had suffered by being asked to answer it.
Then Daniel asked the question she couldn't easily avoid.
“Why did you leave Noah at the hospital?”
Silence.
Her voice hardened.
“Because he was behaving terribly. He had been making accusations all morning, and we were not going to let him ruin your anniversary dinner.”
“He was sick.”
“He was perfectly capable of talking, wasn't he?”
“That doesn't mean he was well enough to be abandoned.”
“We didn't abandon him. We checked him in.”
“And then you left.”
“Our family has endured enough drama.”
I stepped toward the phone.
“Mom.”
She recognized my voice immediately.
“Claire. Good. You can stop turning your son into a weapon.”
I felt strangely calm.
“Noah didn't take the money. He didn't transfer it. He didn't lie about where you went. He's a little boy who trusted you.”
My mother laughed bitterly.
“You have no idea what we've sacrificed for you.”
“Then tell me.”
For the first time, she didn't answer immediately.
I continued.
“Tell me why you took money from Noah's account. Tell me why Dad sent Daniel a message about keeping the blue folder away from him. Tell me why you told everyone I had already picked him up.”
She inhaled sharply.
Then she said, “If you want to destroy this family over a temporary loan, that's your choice.”
“It's not my choice. It's yours.”
I ended the call.
Daniel looked at me.
Neither of us spoke for a long time.
Then he said, “There's one more thing. Dad told me Mom was the one who arranged the transfers.”
I frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“He said he signed the documents because she told him the money was being moved into another account for Noah. He claims he didn't know where it went.”
I thought about the payment to Northbridge Consulting and the money that had reached our parents' personal accounts.
“Do you believe him?”
Daniel stared at the statements.
“No,” he said. “But I think Mom may have been hiding something from Dad, too.”
My phone vibrated.
A new message appeared from my mother.
Mom: You don't know the entire story. Ask your brother what he did with the money before you accuse anyone else.
I looked at Daniel.
May you like
His face had gone white.
“Claire,” he said slowly, “I think Mom is about to accuse me of something I didn't do.”
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