Chapter 6: The Police Report
The police lights painted the living room red and blue.
I stood behind the curtain, watching two patrol cars stop at the curb.
My father stood beside me.
“Don't say anything until we understand what's happening,” he whispered.
I nodded.
My mouth was dry.
Maya sat on the stairs, hugging her knees.
Ryan stood near the kitchen.
Claire hadn't moved from the couch.
The front door shook beneath a knock.
“Police department. Open the door.””
My father looked at me.
“Stay here.””
He opened it.
Two officers stood on the porch.
One was a tall woman with dark hair pulled into a tight bun.
The other was a younger man holding a tablet.
“Marcus Williams?””
“Yes.””
“I'm Detective Harris.””
She showed her badge.
“We need to speak with Jordan Williams.””
My father stepped outside.
“What's this about?””
Detective Harris looked at the house.
“Financial fraud.””
“I know about the account.””
Her eyes narrowed.
“You do?””
“Yes.””
“Then you know Jordan is the primary suspect.””
“He isn't.””
“Sir, we have documentation.””
My father shook his head.
“You have fabricated documentation.””
Detective Harris looked past him.
“Is Jordan inside?””
“Yes.””
“Can we speak with him?””
“Not without an attorney.””
The younger officer stepped forward.
“We're not asking to arrest him.””
My father looked at him.
“Then why did your report identify him as a suspect?””
“Because his name is on the account.””
My father laughed bitterly.
“Someone stole his identity.””
Detective Harris studied him.
“Do you have evidence?””
My father held up the bank statement.
“Yes.””
“Can I see it?””
He hesitated.
Then handed it over.
Detective Harris scanned the page.
“Where did you get this?””
“It was hidden in my son's room.””
“Who hid it?””
“We don't know.””
She looked through the doorway.
Her eyes landed on me.
“Jordan?””
I stepped forward.
“Yes.””
She studied my face.
“Were you aware of this account?””
“No.””
“Did you authorize the $42,000 transfer?””
“No.””
“Do you know where the money came from?””
“My father's account.””
She looked at Marcus.
“You reported the missing money?””
“Yes.””
“When?””
“Tonight.””
Detective Harris looked at me.
“Jordan, I need you to understand something.””
“I do.””
“The account was opened using your personal information.””
“I didn't open it.””
“We believe you.””
I blinked.
“You do?””
She nodded.
“We also believe someone wanted us to find it.””
Ryan suddenly spoke from inside.
“She knows.””
Detective Harris looked at him.
“Who are you?””
“Ryan Williams.””
“Relation?””
“Marcus's brother.””
“Why are you here?””
Ryan stepped onto the porch.
“Because I'm involved.””
My father turned.
“Ryan.””
Ryan ignored him.
“I stole the money.””
Detective Harris looked at him.
“Are you confessing?””
“Yes.””
The younger officer immediately began typing.
Ryan nodded toward me.
“But Jordan had nothing to do with it.””
Detective Harris looked at me.
“Who else was involved?””
Ryan looked through the open door.
At Claire.
Claire's face collapsed.
“Don't,” she whispered.
Detective Harris followed his gaze.
“Ma'am?””
Claire stood slowly.
“I…”
Ryan said, “Tell her.””
Claire looked at him with hatred.
“You're destroying everything.””
“You already destroyed it.””
Detective Harris stepped inside.
“Mrs. Williams, are you Claire Williams?””
“Yes.””
“Did you assist Ryan in accessing the money?””
Claire started crying.
“I didn't mean for this to happen.””
“That's not an answer.””
“I transferred some money.””
“How much?””
Claire wiped her cheeks.
“I don't remember.””
Detective Harris looked at the statement.
“Approximately twenty-seven thousand dollars?””
Claire nodded.
My father closed his eyes.
I watched him absorb the betrayal.
Detective Harris asked, “Why was the money transferred into an account belonging to Jordan?””
Claire looked at me.
“I was trying to make sure he could leave.””
I stared at her.
“What?””
She began shaking.
“Ryan told me people were coming after him.””
“So you stole from Dad?””
“I thought I could replace it.””
“You framed me.””
“I didn't know it would go this far.””
“You accused me of assaulting Maya.””
“I was trying to make you leave before the police came.””
My voice broke.
“You wanted me gone.””
Claire nodded.
“Yes.””
The word hurt more than I expected.
My father stepped toward her.
“You chose him over us.””
Claire covered her face.
“I was afraid.””
Maya suddenly stood.
“You weren't afraid.””
Everyone looked at her.
Maya walked toward her mother.
“You were protecting yourself.””
Claire shook her head.
“No.””
“You knew Ryan was stealing.””
“I didn't know how much.””
“You knew enough.””
Maya's voice trembled.
“And when Ryan told you to blame Jordan, you agreed.””
Claire began crying.
“I thought it would only be for one night.””
“One night?””
Maya laughed through tears.
“You almost destroyed him.””
Detective Harris stepped between them.
“That's enough.””
She turned to Ryan.
“You're going to come with us.””
Ryan nodded.
Then Detective Harris looked at Claire.
“And you.””
Claire's eyes widened.
“Am I under arrest?””
“Not yet.””
My father looked confused.
“What does that mean?””
Detective Harris lowered her voice.
“We have another problem.””
She pulled out her tablet.
“The $42,000 transfer wasn't initiated from this house.””
Everyone stared at her.
“What?”” my father asked.
“The transfer came from a device registered to a different location.””
“Where?””
She turned the screen around.
The address appeared.
My heart stopped.
I knew it.
It was my college dorm.
I whispered, “That's impossible.””
Detective Harris looked at me.
“Why?””
“Because I haven't been there in three weeks.””
She studied me.
“Are you sure?””
“Yes.””
“Does anyone else have access to your dorm room?””
I thought about it.
“My roommate.””
“Name?””
“Evan.””
Ryan suddenly stiffened.
My father noticed.
“You know that name?””
Ryan said nothing.
“Ryan.””
He looked at me.
Then he whispered,
“Evan isn't your roommate.””
My skin prickled.
“What?””
Ryan shook his head.
“He works for the people I owe.””
The room went silent.
My father stared at him.
“What are you talking about?””
Ryan looked at me.
“Your dorm wasn't used to transfer the money.””
“Then what was?””
Ryan's face went pale.
“Your identity.””
Detective Harris's tablet suddenly chimed.
She looked down.
Her expression changed.
“What?””
My father stepped closer.
“What is it?””
She turned the screen toward us.
A new transaction had just been initiated.
Another *$18,000*.
Same account.
Same name.
*Jordan Williams.*
But this time, the destination account belonged to someone none of us recognized.
Detective Harris whispered,
“The transfer is happening right now.””
I stared at the screen.
Then my phone buzzed.
One new message.
No number.
Just a photograph.
It showed me standing outside my college dorm.
Taken that morning.
May you like
Beneath the photograph were six words:
*You should have left when asked.*
