Chapter 3 - The Money He Took From Our Daughter
I woke Julia at 1:46 in the morning.
She sat at the kitchen table in pajamas while I placed my phone in front of her.
She listened to the recording.
Then she checked Ellie’s account.
Then she looked at me.
“Do not go home tomorrow.”
“I need clothes.”
“I’ll buy you clothes.”
“My computer is there.”
“We’ll get it when Ryan isn’t.”
I had never seen my younger sister so serious.
At seven, I called a family-law attorney named Natalie Price.
By nine-thirty, I was sitting in her office.
I showed her everything.
She listened without interrupting.
When I finished, she leaned back.
“First, do not sign the refinance.”
“I won’t.”
“Second, move your personal money into an account Ryan cannot access.”
“I already have one.”
“How much?”
“About seventy thousand.”
Her eyebrows lifted.
“My father left it to me.”
“Good.”
She tapped Ryan’s recording.
“Third, we find out how much financial damage already exists.”
Natalie referred me to a forensic accountant.
His name was Jonah Mercer.
By that afternoon, Jonah had begun reviewing every financial document I could legally access.
The first surprise arrived before dinner.
Ryan had not withdrawn $28,000 from Ellie’s account once.
He had taken money in six separate transfers over nine months.
The second surprise was where it went.
Not directly to Walker Renovations.
The transfers moved through our joint checking account, then into an account labeled RIVERSIDE MANAGEMENT.
“Business vendor?” I asked.
Jonah shook his head.
“Doesn’t look like one.”
He searched public records.
Riverside Management operated a furnished apartment building downtown.
My stomach tightened.
“Maybe employees stay there.”
“Maybe.”
He clicked deeper.
One unit had been leased for eleven months.
Suite 418.
Tenant:
Ryan Walker.
I stared at the screen.
My husband had another apartment.
For almost a year.
I whispered, “Can we find out why?”
Jonah looked uncomfortable.
“That’s probably a question for your attorney.”
Then my phone rang.
Unknown number.
I nearly ignored it.
Something made me answer.
A woman spoke.
“Megan?”
“Yes?”
“My name is Vanessa Cole.”
I didn’t recognize it.
Then she said:
“I live in Suite 418.”
May you like
My entire body went cold.
“And I think your husband has been lying to both of us.”
