Chapter 6: The Name Behind the Transfer
Ethan gripped the phone.
“Freeze the transfer.”
“We’re attempting a recall,” the banker said.
“But the authorization came through your verified email.”
“I didn’t send it.”
Drea lifted her chin.
“Perhaps you forgot.”
Nolan pointed at her.
“Where did you move the money?”
“You’re assuming I touched it.”
“You controlled the receiving account.”
Drea looked at Ethan.
“He signed blank refinancing forms.
Ask him.”
Calla’s eyes moved toward her father.
“Dad?”
Ethan sat on the edge of a patio chair.
“Drea told me they were insurance forms.”
“You signed them without reading?”
“I trusted her.”
Calla’s voice became small.
“Did you help her take our home?”
Ethan reached for her, but she stepped behind Mara.
“No, sweetheart.”
“But you believed Drea instead of Mom.
You signed what she gave you.
You didn’t listen to me until I pulled the music out.”
Ethan’s hand dropped.
“You’re right.”
Calla blinked at him.
“I should have listened to you,” he said.
“I should have looked for your mother.
I should have read every page.
I failed you.”
His voice broke on the final word.
Mara placed one hand on Calla’s shoulder, but she kept her eyes on Ethan.
“Do not ask her to comfort you,” Mara said.
“I won’t.”
“Then tell her what happens now.”
Ethan wiped his face.
“I tell the truth, even if it costs me the house.”
Officer Patel’s radio sounded again.
He turned toward Drea.
“The bank traced the money to an account belonging to Owen Pike.”
Ethan looked up.
“My lawyer?”
Mara went still.
“The lawyer who told me Ethan wanted no contact.”
Drea folded her arms.
“Owen manages investments.”
“He also filed the surrender order,” Officer Patel said.
“His electronic signature is on the court submission.”
Janice took the order from him.
“Then Owen could have attached a false notary page.”
Drea looked toward the gate.
Officer Patel shifted into her path.
“You’re not leaving yet.”
“You cannot hold me based on guesses.”
“No, but I can ask you to explain why your phone contacted Owen seventeen times today.”
Drea reached into her handbag.
Ethan caught her wrist before she could pull out the phone.
“Don’t touch me,” she said.
“Put it on the table.”
She released it, but the screen went black.
Nolan leaned closer.
“She erased it remotely.”
Drea smiled.
“Prove that.”
Sylvia stepped beside Calla.
“I gave you chance after chance to stop.”
“You always preferred Nolan.”
“No.
I simply stopped confusing love with permission.”
Officer Patel placed the phone in an evidence bag.
“Nobody leaves until the detective arrives.”
Drea turned to Ethan.
“If I go down, you will lose the house, your savings, and Calla.
Owen has enough documents to make you look responsible.”
“You forged my signature.”
“And you signed enough genuine pages to create doubt.”
For the first time, Ethan had no answer.
Officer Patel’s phone rang.
He listened without speaking, then ended the call.
“Owen Pike has disappeared,” he said.
“His office is empty.”
Mara looked at Drea.
Drea’s smile returned.
May you like
Officer Patel slipped his phone into his pocket.
“But he left behind a recording with Ethan’s name on it.”
