Chapter 6 - The Account with Margaret's Name
Owen Mercer did not give Margaret many details on the phone.
Casino security policies.
Customer privacy.
Fraud procedures.
The usual walls institutions built before admitting something had gone badly wrong.
But he confirmed three facts.
A payment source bearing Margaret's name had funded casino activity.
The transactions were connected to a VIP access credential.
And the credential did not belong to Ethan.
"Then whose is it?"
"I can't disclose that yet."
"You called me."
"Because your identity appears to be involved."
"Then you can tell me who used it."
"I can tell you we're reviewing that."
Margaret disliked him immediately.
Not personally.
Professionally.
He sounded like someone trained to turn answers into procedures.
"Mr. Mercer."
"Yes?"
"I am seventy years old, not seven. If somebody is stealing my retirement money, I don't need comforting language."
Owen was quiet.
Then his tone changed.
"I understand."
"Good."
"I believe your account may have been used without authorization."
"By whom?"
"I don't know yet."
Margaret thought of Vanessa's old phone number.
"You may want to look for a woman with dark hair who visits often."
Owen paused.
"Why?"
"Because I think my daughter-in-law built an online account in my name."
"Do you have proof?"
"I have a phone number."
Owen asked her to email copies of the enrollment record.
Margaret did.
The next day he called again.
"Mrs. Hayes, do you know anyone named Helena Cole?"
"No."
"Have you ever met Victor Cole?"
"No."
Another pause.
"Has your daughter-in-law?"
"I don't know."
Owen thanked her and ended the call.
Margaret wrote Helena Cole in her notebook.
A search revealed hundreds of articles.
Victor Cole's wife.
Sixty-one years old.
Philanthropist.
Board member of several local charities.
Dead six months earlier after a long illness.
Margaret read an obituary.
Helena had supported senior housing programs and hospice services.
One article included photographs from a charity event.
Margaret almost closed the page.
Then she saw Vanessa.
Not named in the caption.
Standing in the background.
Black dress.
Hair pulled back.
Much younger-looking under professional makeup.
But unmistakable.
Margaret enlarged the photograph.
Vanessa stood near Helena Cole.
Very near.
Margaret printed the page.
When Ethan arrived that evening, she placed the photograph on the table.
He stared.
"Where did you get this?"
"Internet."
"Why were you searching Helena Cole?"
"Why does your wife know her?"
Ethan picked up the printout.
"I don't know."
"Think."
"I've never seen this."
"Did Vanessa ever work with a charity?"
"She volunteered at some events."
"Which?"
"I don't keep track."
Margaret's patience thinned.
"Your wife is photographed beside a dead casino owner's wife. A casino security manager called me because my pension is funding gambling through a VIP credential. And you don't keep track?"
Ethan looked at her.
"Casino security called you?"
"Yes."
"When?"
"Yesterday."
His face changed.
"What did they say?"
"Enough."
"Mom, Vanessa told me Victor's office demanded payment."
"Owen told me they are investigating fraud."
Ethan sat down.
The photograph trembled slightly in his hand.
"Vanessa handled charity events for a home-care foundation years ago."
Margaret waited.
"What foundation?"
"I don't remember."
"Did it involve Helena?"
"I don't know."
"Ask."
He laughed without humor.
"She'll know why."
"Good."
"Mom, what are you doing?"
"Finding my money."
Ethan looked exhausted.
"I can pay you back."
"With what?"
He looked away.
Margaret softened for exactly one second.
He was still her son.
She remembered him at six, terrified of thunderstorms.
At fourteen, carrying groceries for an elderly neighbor without being asked.
At twenty-three, crying at his father's first heart attack.
People were not born as the worst thing they would ever do.
But neither were they excused by the good things that came before.
"Ethan."
He looked up.
"If Vanessa stole from me, I will report her."
"I know."
"If you helped her, I will report you too."
His face tightened.
"Mom."
"I am telling you now so you cannot later say you didn't understand."
"She's my wife."
"And I'm your mother."
"That's not what I mean."
"I know exactly what you mean. You're asking which relationship I expect you to betray."
Margaret folded her hands.
"I'm asking you not to betray yourself."
Ethan stared at the photograph.
Then his phone buzzed.
Vanessa.
He did not answer.
It buzzed again.
And again.
Finally a message appeared.
Ethan read it.
His face lost color.
"What?"
He turned the phone toward Margaret.
Vanessa had written:
Do not talk to casino security without me.
A second message arrived.
If they mention Helena, call me immediately.
May you like
Margaret looked at Ethan.
"Now you can ask why."
