Chapter 6: The Original Bank Records
Spencer went completely still.
The phone remained pressed against his ear.
I watched his expression change from anger to disbelief, then to something I had never seen on his face before.
Fear.
"How did you hear about that?"" he asked.
A pause.
"No, she hasn't seen everything.""
Another pause.
"I said she hasn't seen everything.""
His eyes moved toward me.
I didn't move.
Then he walked into the pantry and closed the door.
I stood beside the refrigerator, listening to the muffled conversation.
Charlene appeared a moment later.
She looked at me, then at the pantry door.
"What have you done?""
I took a glass from the cabinet.
"Made myself a cup of water.""
"Don't play innocent.""
I filled the glass.
"I'm not.""
She stepped closer.
"You've contacted a lawyer.""
"Yes.""
"Without discussing it with Spencer?""
I drank some water.
"Why would I need his permission?""
Her nostrils flared.
"Because he's your husband.""
I set the glass down.
"And you're his mother. Apparently, neither relationship has taught you how to respect boundaries.""
She slapped the kitchen island with her palm.
"You ungrateful woman!""
I looked at her.
"Don't raise your hand again.""
For a moment, she looked as though she might.
Then she glanced toward the pantry.
Her expression changed.
She lowered her voice.
"You need to understand that this situation is bigger than you.""
I almost smiled.
"That's what people say when they want you to sacrifice something for them.""
"Mercer Holdings has employees. Families depend on that company.""
"Then your company should have legitimate financing.""
"Spencer was trying to help.""
"By forging my signature?""
She looked away.
I took my phone from the counter.
"Did you know about the guarantee?""
Charlene didn't answer.
"Did you know?""
She folded her arms.
"Spencer explained the situation.""
"That's not an answer.""
"You're making it sound criminal.""
I stared at her.
"Was my signature real?""
She looked at me.
Then she said something that made my stomach turn.
"It looked real enough.""
For a moment, the kitchen seemed to go silent.
I stared at her.
"You knew.""
Charlene lifted her chin.
"I knew there was a document.""
"You knew my signature wasn't mine.""
"I knew Spencer handled the paperwork.""
"And you accepted the money anyway.""
She walked toward the counter and picked up a strawberry from the bowl.
"Do you know how difficult it is to keep a business alive? Your father left you a comfortable life. Not everyone has that privilege.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
"My father worked for forty-two years to leave me that house.""
"And now you're using it to make a point?""
"No. I'm protecting it from people who think they can take it.""
Charlene put the strawberry down.
"You have no idea how much money Spencer has invested in our future.""
I looked at her.
"Our future?""
She didn't answer.
Then I noticed something on the counter.
A folded piece of paper.
It had been partially covered by a stack of napkins.
I moved closer.
The heading read:
*MERCER HOLDINGS — PROPERTY ACQUISITION SUMMARY.*
Beneath it was a list of addresses.
I recognized my house immediately.
But there were two other properties.
One in Stamford.
One in West Hartford.
Both had been identified as potential security assets.
Beside the Stamford address was Vanessa's name.
I looked up.
"What's this?""
Charlene reached for the paper.
I picked it up first.
"Give that back.""
I scanned the page.
A handwritten note had been added at the bottom.
*Phase Two — Complete before December.*
My eyes moved to the initials beside it.
S.M.
Spencer Mercer.
I looked at Charlene.
"How many properties are involved?""
She lunged for the paper.
"That's private business information.""
I stepped backward.
"How many?""
The pantry door opened.
Spencer came out.
"What are you doing?""
I held up the paper.
"Reading.""
He crossed the kitchen in three steps.
"Give me that.""
"No.""
He stopped.
His eyes moved to the document.
"Where did you get that?""
"Your mother left it on the counter.""
Charlene snapped.
"Spencer, get it away from her.""
He reached toward me.
I held the paper behind my back.
"Don't touch me.""
His hand dropped.
For a few seconds, we stared at each other.
Then his phone vibrated again.
He looked at the screen.
A message appeared.
He read it and swore under his breath.
"What?"" I asked.
"Nothing.""
I looked at the paper.
"Does Vanessa know her property is listed?""
Neither of them answered.
I felt a chill move down my arms.
"Does she?""
Charlene stepped forward.
"Vanessa doesn't own that property outright.""
"That doesn't answer my question.""
Spencer rubbed his forehead.
"She signed some paperwork.""
I stared at him.
"What paperwork?""
"A refinancing arrangement.""
"Did she know her property was being used to secure your mother's business debt?""
He didn't answer.
I looked at Charlene.
"Did you do the same thing to your daughter that you did to me?""
Her face tightened.
"Vanessa trusts me.""
I laughed.
"Apparently, that's what makes this possible.""
Spencer's phone rang again.
This time he answered immediately.
"Yes?""
I couldn't hear the caller.
But Spencer's expression became increasingly troubled.
"What do you mean the account is frozen?""
He turned away.
"Since when?""
A pause.
"Who authorized that?""
He looked toward me.
"Don't do anything until I call you back.""
He ended the call.
I stared at him.
"What account?""
He slipped the phone into his pocket.
"Business account.""
"Which one?""
"Opal, stop.""
"Is the money gone?""
His expression answered before he did.
Charlene grabbed his arm.
"Spencer, what happened?""
He looked at her.
"Northbridge has suspended the vendor payments.""
Her hand tightened.
"What?""
"They're reviewing the transfers.""
Charlene's face went pale.
"Can they do that?""
"They already did.""
She looked at me.
"You.""
I shook my head.
"I haven't contacted Northbridge.""
"You sent something to your lawyer.""
"Yes. That's called protecting myself.""
Spencer stepped closer.
"Do you understand what you've done?""
I stared at him.
"I understand what you did.""
He lowered his voice.
"You have no idea what happens if they discover everything.""
"Then perhaps you should have thought about that before signing my name.""
He looked toward his mother.
Charlene began pacing.
"Call Richard. Tell him to move the remaining money.""
Spencer shook his head.
"He can't.""
"Why not?""
"Because the accounts are under review.""
Charlene stopped walking.
Then she turned toward me.
"You're going to fix this.""
I blinked.
"Excuse me?""
"You'll call your attorney. You'll tell her this was a misunderstanding. You'll withdraw your complaint.""
I stared at her.
"You want me to withdraw a complaint about a forged financial guarantee?""
"It was a family arrangement!""
"Then why did you need a fake signature?""
Charlene's mouth tightened.
"Because you would have refused.""
I stared at her.
She had just answered the question.
Not accidentally.
Not indirectly.
She had admitted that they knew I wouldn't consent.
Spencer closed his eyes.
"Mom, stop talking.""
But Charlene was already furious.
"Why should I stop? She's destroying everything! After everything we've done for her!""
I reached for my phone.
"Say that again.""
She stopped.
"What?""
"Tell me what you've done for me.""
She looked at Spencer.
Then back at me.
"Your husband gave you a home.""
I held up the deed.
"My name is the only one on it.""
"He gave you a family.""
"You gave me a family that steals from me.""
"You've been living comfortably because of him!""
I looked at her.
"I've been paying for him.""
Spencer stepped between us.
"Enough!""
For the first time that evening, his voice sounded genuinely angry.
He pointed toward the stairs.
"Go upstairs. We're going to discuss this tomorrow.""
I didn't move.
"No.""
"Opal.""
"No.""
He looked around the kitchen, apparently realizing that several relatives had gathered in the doorway.
His uncle stood near the dining room.
Vanessa was behind him.
She looked frightened.
"What's happening?"" Vanessa asked.
Nobody answered.
Then her eyes landed on the paper in my hand.
"What is that?""
I held it out.
"Something you should read.""
Charlene immediately stepped forward.
"Don't give her that.""
Vanessa took the paper anyway.
Her eyes moved down the page.
Then she looked at her mother.
"Why is my house listed here?""
Charlene opened her mouth.
"Vanessa, darling—"
"Why is my house listed here?""
Spencer looked away.
Vanessa's voice began to shake.
"Did you use my property for the company?""
Charlene reached for her arm.
"It's complicated.""
"Did you?""
Vanessa pulled away.
"Mom!""
I watched her read the handwritten note at the bottom.
Then she looked at Spencer.
"Did you know?""
He didn't answer.
Vanessa began crying.
"You told me it was just a tax document.""
Spencer ran a hand through his hair.
"Vanessa, please.""
She shook her head.
"You told me I wasn't taking any risk.""
Charlene stepped forward.
"You're being hysterical.""
Vanessa looked at her.
"You used my house?""
I said nothing.
I didn't need to.
For the first time, Charlene was facing the consequences of her actions from someone other than me.
And I saw something interesting.
She wasn't afraid of losing my house.
She was afraid of losing control of her daughter.
Vanessa walked toward the living room.
"I want the original paperwork.""
Charlene followed.
"You don't know what you're asking for.""
"I want it now.""
Spencer remained in the kitchen.
I placed the acquisition summary on the counter.
Then I took my handbag from the chair.
He looked at me.
"Where are you going?""
"To stay somewhere else tonight.""
"This is your home.""
I looked at him.
"That's precisely why I'm leaving.""
He stepped toward me.
"Opal, please. We can work this out.""
I stopped.
"Did you love me when you copied my signature?""
He stared at me.
"Of course I love you.""
"Did you love me when you put my father's inheritance at risk?""
"That's not fair.""
"Did you love me when your mother slapped me and you asked me to apologize?""
He looked down.
I waited.
But there was no answer.
I walked to the front door.
Behind me, I heard Vanessa crying and Charlene demanding that everyone calm down.
Then Spencer called my name.
"Opal!""
I turned.
He stood in the hallway holding his phone.
His face was completely white.
"Denise just sent me something.""
I looked at him.
"What?""
He swallowed.
"She found the original transfer records.""
I waited.
He glanced toward his mother.
Then back at me.
"There's a payment to an account in your name.""
My stomach dropped.
"What account?""
He shook his head.
"I don't know.""
"How much?""
He looked at the screen again.
Then he whispered:
"Two hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars.""
I stared at him.
"I don't have an account with that kind of money.""
Spencer looked as though he wanted to say something.
But before he could, my phone rang.
It was Margaret, my attorney.
I answered.
"Margaret?""
Her voice was urgent.
"Opal, I need you to listen carefully. We've just received the original banking records.""
I gripped the phone.
"Spencer says there's an account in my name.""
"Yes. And the records show that it received multiple transfers from Mercer Holdings.""
"How much?""
"Two hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars.""
I looked at Spencer.
"Who opened it?""
Margaret paused.
Then she said:
"That's the problem, Opal. The account was opened using your identity, but the person who authorized the withdrawals was listed as your husband.""
I felt my knees weaken.
"Where did the money go?""
Another pause.
"Most of it was transferred into an account associated with your late father's estate.""
My heart stopped.
"My father's estate?""
"Yes.""
I pressed my hand against the wall.
"That's impossible. My father's estate was settled three years ago.""
"I know. That's why this is serious.""
I looked toward the living room.
Charlene was standing near the fireplace, watching me.
And suddenly, I understood why she'd been so determined to get her hands on my house.
It wasn't just about protecting her company.
It wasn't even just about the money.
She and Spencer had been using my identity to move funds connected to my father's estate.
Margaret spoke again.
"Opal, there's one more thing.""
"What?""
"The estate account shows a beneficiary change submitted shortly before your father died.""
I stopped breathing.
"What beneficiary change?""
Margaret's voice dropped.
"Someone added Spencer Mercer as an authorized beneficiary.""
I looked at my husband.
He was staring at me from across the hallway.
And for the first time in three years, I saw him not as the man I'd married, but as a stranger who had been standing beside me while quietly taking apart my life.
Then Margaret said the words that changed everything.
"Opal, according to the original paperwork, your father never authorized that change.""
I tightened my grip on the phone.
"Then who did?""
Margaret answered:
"Someone used a power of attorney bearing your father's signature.""
May you like
And I knew exactly who had been with my father during the final weeks of his life.
*Charlene Mercer.*
