Chapter 3 - EIGHTY-FOUR THOUSAND
Daniel reached for the statements.
Robert slapped his hand away.
"Don't touch them."
I had never seen my father-in-law speak to his son like that.
"Eighty-four thousand?" I asked.
Robert nodded. "Over eighteen months. Transfers from my retirement account into a business account Daniel opened. Margaret authorized several of them using my old online password."
Daniel's face went red. "It was temporary. I was investing it."
"In what?" Robert asked. "Sports betting? The boat you told Emily belonged to a client? The condo in Tampa?"
My stomach dropped.
"What condo?"
Daniel looked at me too quickly.
That told me everything.
"There is no condo," he said.
Robert reached back into the envelope and handed me a real estate printout.
A Tampa apartment. One bedroom. Ocean view.
Owner: Daniel Whitmore.
Purchased nine months earlier.
I stared at the price.
"You told me we couldn't afford to replace the furnace."
"Emily—"
"You made me take extra shifts."
"It wasn't like that."
"Then tell me what it was like."
He couldn't.
Margaret cut in. "A husband doesn't need permission from his wife for every investment."
I turned toward her. "And a mother-in-law doesn't get to slap her daughter-in-law."
Her chin lifted. "You were disrespectful."
I took out my phone with my good hand.
"Who are you calling?" Daniel asked.
"911."
The entire table went still.
Margaret gave a sharp laugh. "Don't be ridiculous. This is a family matter."
"You hit me. I fell. I got burned. That's not a family matter. That's assault."
Daniel stepped between me and the door.
"Put the phone down."
"Move."
"We can fix this."
"Move, Daniel."
For one second, I saw something cold in his eyes.
Then Robert spoke from behind him.
"Son, if you stop her from leaving or calling the police, you're going to need a lawyer for more than theft."
Daniel slowly stepped aside.
May you like
I made the call.
And while the dispatcher was asking for the address, I noticed Margaret slipping toward the kitchen with one of Robert's bank statements in her hand.
