Chapter 5 - WHAT RYAN HAD BEEN HIDING
Margaret hired an attorney.
Not because she wanted revenge.
Because she wanted answers.
The attorney, Thomas Reed, spent two weeks reviewing documents.
When he finally called, his voice was unusually careful.
"Mrs. Harper, I need you to come in."
Margaret arrived the next morning.
Thomas placed a stack of papers on his desk.
"There are irregularities."
Margaret sat down.
"What kind?"
"The mortgage isn't the biggest issue."
"What is?"
Thomas slid a document toward her.
"Payments were transferred from your account into another account before reaching the mortgage."
Margaret frowned.
"Whose account?"
"We don't know yet."
"Can you find out?"
"We can subpoena records if necessary."
Margaret stared at the paper.
"How much?"
Thomas gave her a number.
Margaret's hands went cold.
It was more money than she had expected.
Much more.
"Where did it go?"
Thomas looked at her.
"That's what concerns me."
He handed her another page.
Several transfers had been made to a company.
The company name looked familiar.
Margaret had seen it on Melissa's social media.
It was connected to a luxury home-design business Melissa had launched eighteen months earlier.
Margaret leaned back.
"So my mortgage payments funded her company."
"We don't know that yet."
"But the money went there."
"Some of it."
Margaret looked at the dates.
The transfers began only weeks after the house purchase.
Then she noticed something else.
One transfer had occurred three days before the family reunion.
Thomas watched her expression change.
"What?"
Margaret pointed.
"Why would she move money now?"
Thomas studied the record.
"I don't know."
Margaret looked at the amount.
It was large.
Large enough to change everything.
Then her phone rang.
Ryan.
She answered.
"Mom."
"What?"
"I know about the lawyer."
Margaret said nothing.
Ryan continued.
"Please stop."
"Stop what?"
"Digging."
Margaret's voice softened.
"Ryan, tell me the truth."
"I can't."
"Why?"
A long silence.
Then:
"Because if Melissa finds out I told you, she'll destroy everything."
Margaret closed her eyes.
"What does she have on you?"
May you like
Ryan whispered:
"Everything."
