Chapter 4 - The MoneyOlivia stared at the transfer.
“I didn’t do that.”
Ethan believed her.
The transfer had been made four days earlier.
Olivia’s savings account.
The one containing money from her late grandmother.
Diane had always called it “Olivia’s little cushion.”
It was more than little.
Nearly $180,000.
Ethan checked the account.
Three transfers.
Ten thousand.
Fifteen thousand.
Twenty-five thousand.
Fifty thousand gone.
Olivia looked sick.
“I never approved those.”
“How does your mother have access?”
“I don’t know.”
Then she remembered.
Two months earlier, Diane offered to help organize paperwork while Olivia was exhausted.
She asked for bank statements.
Insurance cards.
Copies of IDs.
“Mom said you were too busy and I needed someone to help me.”
Ethan stood.
“I need air.”
Olivia grabbed his hand.
“Please don’t do something stupid.”
“I’m calling the bank.”
“That’s not stupid.”
“No.”
He looked at her.
“Going home is.”
He stayed.
For once, anger did not make the decision.
The bank froze the account.
Fraud review began.
At 2:13 a.m., Ethan received a text from Diane.
You are destroying this family.
He did not answer.
Then another.
Olivia has always been weak under stress. Don’t make her choose.
That sentence bothered him.
Choose what?
At 3:01 a.m., Vanessa texted.
Mom said you’re kicking us out permanently. Olivia promised we could stay until the baby comes.
Ethan showed Olivia.
Her face changed.
“I never promised that.”
“What did you say?”
“I said they could stay a few weeks after Mom’s lease ended.”
“How long ago?”
“Five months.”
Five months.
They had moved in temporarily.
Then stopped leaving.
Ethan checked the home security app.
Most indoor cameras were offline.
He had assumed the system needed service.
One camera remained active.
Garage.
He opened recordings.
At 1:22 a.m., Diane walked into the garage carrying three boxes.
She placed them in the trunk of Olivia’s SUV.
Then Vanessa joined her.
One box split open.
Papers spilled onto the floor.
Diane knelt to gather them.
The camera caught the top page.
Ethan zoomed in.
May you like
OLIVIA CARTER — DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY.
His wife had never mentioned signing one.
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