Chapter 4: The Account That Wasn’t Hers
“I have never seen that money,” Nora said.
Mrs.
Gable held out her hand to Daniel.
“Now you understand why I wanted her gone.”
“You just tore evidence,” Daniel replied.
“I tore a copy of a false accusation.”
Nora moved closer to the table.
“Let me see the account number.”
Mrs.
Gable blocked her.
“You have seen enough.”
Daniel handed Nora the page.
Her fingertip followed the printed name, then stopped.
“This isn’t my account.”
“It carries your name,” Mrs.
Gable said.
“It says Nora Elizabeth Ellis.
My middle name is May.”
“A clever mistake to point out after being caught.”
Nora reached into her apron and removed a worn receipt.
“This is from the bank.
I withdrew thirty dollars yesterday to buy John’s soup.
My account number is printed at the bottom.”
Daniel placed the receipt beside the transfer.
“The numbers are different.”
Mrs.
Gable folded her arms.
“People may have more than one account.”
“I don’t.”
A knock struck the open door.
A uniformed deputy stood in the hallway with one hand resting on his belt.
“Mrs.
Gable reported possible financial exploitation of a vulnerable man.”
Mrs.
Gable pointed at Nora.
“She entered his room, fed him without permission, and persuaded him to hide documents.”
Old John struck the arm of his wheelchair.
“No!”
The deputy approached him.
“Sir, did this woman ask you for money?”
“No.
Nora...
good.”
“His confusion comes and goes,” Mrs.
Gable said.
“That is why I called.”
Daniel stepped beside his father.
“I am Daniel Mercer, his son.
No one is removing Nora from this house.”
The deputy looked at the transfer.
“If an account was opened in her name, I’ll need identification from everyone.”
“My staff file has a copy of her identification,” Mrs.
Gable said.
“She provided it when she was hired.”
Nora’s hand went to her belly.
“You had everything needed to open that account.”
“That is a serious accusation.”
“So is saying I took forty-seven thousand dollars.”
Mrs.
Gable leaned close enough for only Nora and Daniel to hear.
“Think carefully.
You have a baby coming and nowhere else to live.”
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
“Was that a threat?”
“It was practical advice.”
The deputy lifted the torn page.
“No one leaves until I understand this.”
Mrs.
Gable smiled for the first time.
“Of course.
Search Nora’s room.
I believe you will find what you need.”
Nora turned toward her.
“You’ve put something there.”
“Listen to her.
She sounds desperate already.”
They crossed the service hall to Nora’s small room.
Mrs.
Gable opened the door with her master key, and the deputy searched the single dresser.
He pulled a bank card from beneath a stack of folded baby clothes.
Mrs.
Gable exhaled.
“There it is.”
Nora stared at the card.
“That is not mine.”
“It has your name on it,” the deputy said.
“I’ve never touched it.”
Daniel took the card and examined the signature strip.
“This was issued by North County Bank.”
Mrs.
Gable’s smile vanished.
Daniel turned to the deputy.
“My company keeps no accounts there.
But our chief financial officer does.”
“That proves nothing,” Mrs.
Gable said.
Daniel held the card under the light.
“Peter Lang approved Adam’s dismissal.
He also brought me the evidence against him.”
Old John’s voice carried from the sitting room behind them.
“Peter,” he called.
“Peter and Gable.”
Daniel turned the bank card over.
A private telephone number had been written on the back.
May you like
His face hardened as he recognized it.
“This is Peter Lang’s personal number.”
