Chapter 2 - THE WOMAN IN THE WHITE COAT
Jared spent the drive home replaying the moment his father said he had never received a dollar.
Every explanation he had imagined suddenly collapsed.
He had assumed Oscar was embarrassed.
Maybe his father had been too proud to admit that he needed more.
Maybe the money was sitting untouched in savings.
Maybe Oscar had misunderstood the arrangement.
But now Jared knew.
His father had been living on soup.
During Chicago winters.
While Jared had been sending eight thousand dollars every month.
Jared's hands tightened around the steering wheel.
His phone rang.
Lauren.
He ignored it.
It rang again.
He ignored it.
Again.
Finally, Jared answered.
"What?"
Lauren's voice was calm.
"Where are you?"
"Why?"
"I've been trying to reach you."
"I know."
There was a pause.
"Jared, I think you're misunderstanding what happened."
"Then explain it."
"I was handling your father's finances."
"I never asked you to."
"You were busy."
"That's not an explanation."
"I made sure the bills were paid."
"Which bills?"
Silence.
Jared stopped the car.
"Lauren."
"Yes?"
"Which bills?"
She didn't answer.
Jared closed his eyes.
"How much did you take?"
"What?"
"How much?"
"You've lost your mind."
"Did Dad receive any of the money?"
Lauren's voice became defensive.
"Of course he did."
"My father says he didn't."
"Then he's confused."
Jared's eyes opened.
His father had many flaws.
But Oscar Blake was not confused.
Not about money.
Not about his own life.
"Come home," Lauren said.
"No."
"Jared..."
"I'll talk to you when I have the records."
He ended the call.
A minute later, his phone buzzed.
A message appeared.
Don't trust the bank.
Jared stared at it.
No name.
No number he recognized.
Then another message arrived.
Your father doesn't know the whole story.
Jared's stomach tightened.
He typed:
Who is this?
No response.
He called Beverly.
She answered immediately.
"Jared?"
"Someone just texted me."
"Don't respond."
"Why?"
"Because I don't know who we're dealing with."
"What aren't you telling me?"
Beverly paused.
Then she said, "Come back to the bank."
Jared drove back.
When he arrived, Beverly had already prepared another file.
She opened it.
The first page showed Oscar's account.
The second showed the outgoing transfers.
The third showed something Jared had never seen.
A second account.
Jared stared at the account number.
"That's Lauren's."
Beverly nodded.
"But that's only where part of the money went."
Jared looked at her.
"Where did the rest go?"
Beverly opened another document.
The destination account belonged to a company.
Jared recognized the company name.
His face went pale.
"No."
Beverly watched him carefully.
"You know it?"
Jared stood.
"That's impossible."
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"Why?"
"Because that company disappeared seven years ago."
