Chapter 5: The Deal Behind the Smile
Mom bent to retrieve the card, but Dad picked it up first.
“Tell us the truth, Helen.”
Mom’s shoulders dropped.
“Aaron said the account would protect family money from taxes.”
“You accepted eighty-four thousand dollars?” I asked.
“I never spent it.”
“That isn’t what I asked.”
Aaron folded his arms.
“Helen did exactly what Paige authorized.”
“I authorized nothing.”
A man in a gray suit entered the lobby and raised a leather folder.
“Elliot Vance, counsel for Mr.
Carter.
This conversation ends now.”
Maya faced him.
“Your client is free to stop speaking.”
“Then return his laptop.”
“We have consent from the person who delivered it and evidence of identity fraud.”
Elliot handed her a document.
“You also have an electronic certificate carrying Ms.
Paige’s verified signature.”
Maya read it twice.
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
Aaron looked at me.
“Still certain you remember everything?”
Elliot played an audio file from his phone.
My own voice filled the lobby.
“Use my name if it helps.
I trust Nicole.”
Mom covered her mouth.
Nicole shook her head.
“When did she say that?”
Aaron smiled.
“During treatment.
Paige wanted the family taken care of.”
I searched my memory, but the sentence was mine.
The exhaustion, the roughness in my voice, even the cough at the end belonged to me.
Maya closed her folder.
“Until our technical team reviews this, we cannot establish how that authorization was used.”
“So he can leave?” Dad demanded.
“At this moment, we’re asking him not to leave the island.”
Aaron picked up his suitcase.
His smile returned.
“Enjoy the resort, Paige.
You certainly paid enough for it.”
He walked toward the elevators, then paused beside me.
“I can make this disappear.”
I stared at him.
“How?”
“Tell the agents you remembered signing the account forms.
Nicole keeps her home, your mother stays out of court, and your family avoids humiliation.”
“And what do you get?”
“You stop digging.”
“No.”
His voice dropped.
“The money in Helen’s account is tied to your parents’ house.
If federal investigators freeze it, the bank will examine everything.
Your father could lose the home he spent thirty years paying for.”
Dad stepped between us.
“We’ll sell it before we let you buy her silence.”
Mom grabbed his sleeve.
“Richard, please.”
Aaron watched her reaction.
“You see, Paige?
They’ll blame you when the house is gone.”
“No,” I said.
“You’re the one who put it at risk.”
He leaned closer.
“Prove it.”
The elevator doors opened.
Aaron and Elliot stepped inside, leaving us with the echo of my recorded voice.
Leilani approached carrying a small memory drive.
“I may be able to help.”
Maya took it.
“What is this?”
“Our business center records screen activity for security.
Mr.
Carter used a terminal this morning.”
“Did he access the charity account?”
“He opened six accounts,” Leilani said.
“Then he transferred money.”
Nicole gripped the back of a chair.
“To where?”
Leilani looked at her.
“Every transfer went into an account bearing your name.”
The elevator numbers climbed toward the top floor.
May you like
Then Nicole’s phone lit up with a message from Aaron.
**Take the blame, or I take the children.**
