Chapter 7: Laura
“Daniel?””
The voice came from downstairs again.
Soft.
Familiar.
Almost warm.
I stood frozen at the top of the stairs.
Maya gripped my arm.
“Dad, who is that?””
Vanessa didn't answer.
She was staring toward the hallway as if she were waiting for something terrible to step into view.
Then Laura appeared.
She stood beneath the chandelier wearing a cream-colored coat, her silver-blond hair tucked behind one ear.
She looked older than I remembered.
But not different.
Not enough.
She smiled.
“Daniel.””
I couldn't move.
“You're alive.””
Laura's smile disappeared.
“What?””
I walked down the stairs.
“You disappeared after my mother's funeral.””
“I went abroad.””
“You never called.””
“I thought it was better that way.””
“Better for who?””
She looked past me.
Her eyes landed on Vanessa.
Then Maya.
Her face tightened.
“I see you've told them.””
Vanessa stood.
“Laura, you need to leave.””
Laura gave a quiet laugh.
“After seven years, that's all you have to say?””
I stepped between them.
“You knew my mother.””
“Yes.””
“You knew Nathan.””
“Yes.””
“You were in this house seven years ago.””
Laura looked at me.
“Yes.””
“And you helped him forge my identity.””
Her expression changed.
For the first time, fear appeared in her eyes.
“Who told you that?””
“My mother.””
“You have the recording?””
I didn't answer.
Laura looked at the laptop.
Then at the memory card in my hand.
“You shouldn't have that.””
“Why?””
“Because some things are safer buried.””
Maya stepped forward.
“Did you help them steal my tuition money?””
Laura looked at her.
“No.””
“Then why are you here?””
Laura's eyes moved toward Vanessa.
“Because she called me.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I didn't.””
“You did.””
“I haven't spoken to you in seven years.””
Laura pulled out her phone.
“Then explain this.””
She showed me the screen.
A message from Vanessa's number.
*I need to talk. It's about Daniel's daughter.*
Vanessa stared.
“I didn't send that.””
Laura's face changed.
“Then someone has your phone.””
I turned toward Vanessa.
“Where's your phone?””
She reached into her purse.
Her eyes widened.
“It isn't here.””
Maya's voice dropped.
“Someone took it.””
I looked toward the front door.
The lock was still open.
No one had entered behind Laura.
Unless they had.
I ran outside.
The driveway was empty.
A black SUV sat across the street.
Its engine was running.
I shouted.
“Hey!””
The vehicle pulled away.
I sprinted toward it.
The license plate was covered with mud.
I couldn't see the numbers.
I stopped.
My phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
*Stop chasing the car.*
Another message appeared.
*Ask Laura about the account.*
I turned around.
Laura was standing in the doorway.
“What account?”” I demanded.
She looked at me.
“The Carter Foundation account.””
I frowned.
“What is that?””
“Your mother created it.””
“I've never heard of it.””
“She wanted to protect your family.””
“From Nathan?””
“From the people Nathan worked for.””
I stared at her.
“Who were they?””
Laura took a breath.
“A private lending group.””
“What kind?””
“The kind that doesn't send polite letters when people refuse to pay.””
Vanessa whispered, “They were called Blackridge.””
Laura nodded.
I remembered the name.
Not because I'd heard it recently.
Because I'd seen it years ago.
On a document in my mother's office.
“What did my mother owe them?””
“Nothing.””
“Then why were they involved?””
“Because Nathan borrowed from them.””
“How much?””
“Two hundred thousand dollars.””
Maya gasped.
I felt dizzy.
“Two hundred thousand?””
Laura nodded.
“He used your mother's property as collateral.””
“My mother never agreed to that.””
“She didn't.””
“Then how?””
Laura looked at me.
“He used your identity.””
Again.
The same pattern.
The same lie.
The same trap.
But now there was something else.
“If he borrowed two hundred thousand,” I said, “why did he only steal forty-two thousand from me?””
Laura looked toward Vanessa.
“Because forty-two thousand was what remained.””
“Of what?””
“The original loan.””
I stared.
“Nathan paid Blackridge?””
“No.””
“Then where did the money go?””
“Into an account your mother controlled.””
“What account?””
“The Carter Foundation.””
I shook my head.
“My mother never had a foundation.””
“She did.””
“Why didn't I know?””
“Because she created it using a trust.””
Laura stepped closer.
“She knew Nathan would eventually come back.””
“And the tuition money?””
Laura's expression hardened.
“That money was never supposed to go to Nathan.””
“Then who?””
She looked at Maya.
“To her.””
Maya frowned.
“Me?””
“Yes.””
“What do you mean?””
Laura reached into her coat and removed a sealed envelope.
She handed it to Maya.
“This belonged to your grandmother.””
Maya looked at me before opening it.
“Open it,” I said.
Inside was a letter.
Maya unfolded it.
Her eyes moved across the page.
Then she began crying.
“What does it say?””
She handed it to me.
I read the first paragraph.
*Maya, if you are reading this, someone has tried to take what I left for you.*
My hands trembled.
The letter continued.
*Your father doesn't know about the account. I kept it hidden because knowing would make him a target.*
I looked at Laura.
“What account?””
She said nothing.
I kept reading.
*The money in the account was meant for your education. Not Nathan. Not Vanessa. Not anyone else.*
Maya covered her mouth.
“The tuition money…”
I nodded.
“It was yours.””
But the next line made me stop.
*If the tuition payment disappears, do not trust the person who says they were trying to protect you.*
I looked at Vanessa.
She lowered her head.
Maya's face hardened.
“Grandma knew?””
“She knew someone would eventually try,” Laura said.
I looked at her.
“How?””
“Because she hired me.””
“To do what?””
“To watch Nathan.””
“Then why did you disappear?””
Laura's eyes filled.
“Because your mother died.””
“She was murdered?””
Laura shook her head.
“No.””
“Then why?””
“Because I failed.””
Her voice cracked.
“I was supposed to stop Nathan before he got to her.””
Silence.
Maya whispered, “What happened?””
Laura looked at her.
“Your grandmother discovered Nathan had been forging your father's signature.””
“And then?””
“She confronted him.””
“And?””
“He threatened her.””
“With what?””
Laura looked at me.
“With you.””
My stomach twisted.
“He said if she went to the police, you'd be blamed for everything.””
“So she stayed quiet.””
“Yes.””
“And then she created the foundation.””
“Yes.””
“Why didn't she tell me?””
“Because she believed you would try to save her.””
I looked down at the letter.
My mother had known.
She had spent years protecting me from a disaster I never knew existed.
Then I saw the final paragraph.
*Maya, there is one person you must never trust. Not Nathan. Not Laura.*
I stopped.
The sentence continued.
*The person closest to your father is the one who has access to everything.*
Maya looked at me.
“Dad…”
I looked at Vanessa.
She was crying.
But this time, I didn't know whether they were tears of guilt or fear.
Laura stepped forward.
“Daniel, you need to listen to me.””
“What?””
“Your mother didn't leave the foundation to Maya.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“She left it to you.””
The room went silent.
“She knew you'd protect your daughter.””
I shook my head.
“Then why is the money in Maya's name?””
“Because that was the cover.””
I looked at the letter again.
The final line was written in darker ink.
*When the money is threatened, look for the person who benefits from making Maya look guilty.*
My phone buzzed.
A bank alert.
I opened it.
A transfer had just been initiated.
From the hidden Carter Foundation account.
Destination:
*Morris Educational Consulting LLC.*
I looked at Laura.
“Someone is moving the money.””
She nodded.
“And whoever is doing it has access to your mother's trust.””
Vanessa suddenly whispered:
“I know who.””
I turned.
She looked toward the kitchen.
“There was someone else in the house.””
My heart stopped.
“Who?””
Vanessa's face went pale.
“I saw him last night.””
“Who?””
May you like
She whispered:
“Nathan.””
