We drove through the night with the lake disappearing behind us.<\/p>\n
Daniel said almost nothing.<\/p>\n
Neither did I.<\/p>\n
Elaine's warning kept repeating in my head: your father has attempted to move the remaining Northstar assets.<\/p>\n
I kept Grandpa's letter on the passenger seat.<\/p>\n
The paper had become slightly bent at the corner from how many times I had unfolded it.<\/p>\n
By the time we reached the city, the sky was beginning to lighten.<\/p>\n
The bank opened at eight.<\/p>\n
We arrived at seven forty-five.<\/p>\n
Elaine was already waiting.<\/p>\n
She stood beside the entrance with a dark coat pulled tightly around her.<\/p>\n
When she saw us, she walked straight toward me.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou need to understand something before we go inside.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe transfer may already have occurred.\u201d<\/p>\n
My stomach tightened.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow much?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAlmost everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel closed his eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen we're too late.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot necessarily,\u201d Elaine said.<\/p>\n
She handed me a folder.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Northstar agreement contains a clause your father may not know exists.\u201d<\/p>\n
I opened it.<\/p>\n
The final paragraph was marked in red.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf unauthorized control of the protective assets is attempted, all remaining assets become subject to automatic preservation.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat does preservation mean?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe bank freezes them.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo if Dad tried to move them\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe may have triggered the clause.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel exhaled.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow much remains?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cApproximately four hundred thousand dollars.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat isn't everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere did the rest go?\u201d<\/p>\n
Elaine's expression hardened.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is what we're here to find out.\u201d<\/p>\n
We entered the bank.<\/p>\n
A senior officer met us in a private conference room.<\/p>\n
He introduced himself as Mr. Reynolds.<\/p>\n
He placed several documents on the table.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Northstar account was accessed yesterday at 9:17 p.m.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBy my father?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUsing credentials assigned to him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWas the transfer completed?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPartially.\u201d<\/p>\n
I leaned forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow much?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThree hundred eighty-seven thousand dollars was initiated.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat matches the amount from the old records.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot exactly,\u201d Reynolds said.<\/p>\n
He opened another document.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe destination account rejected the transfer.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe receiving bank flagged the transaction.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause of Northstar?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause of the ownership structure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Relief came and disappeared almost immediately.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo the money is still here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMost of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMost?\u201d<\/p>\n
Reynolds nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cTwenty-eight thousand dollars was transferred separately.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo whom?\u201d<\/p>\n
He pushed another page toward me.<\/p>\n
The destination account belonged to Carter Family Properties.<\/p>\n
My mother's company.<\/p>\n
I stared at the account number.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel looked stunned.<\/p>\n
\u201cDad moved money to Mom?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cApparently.\u201d<\/p>\n
I shook my head.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
Reynolds looked at Elaine.<\/p>\n
Elaine answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cPossibly to make the transaction appear legitimate.\u201d<\/p>\n
I didn't like the answer.<\/p>\n
\u201cCould Mom have authorized it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don't know.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at Daniel.<\/p>\n
\u201cCall her.\u201d<\/p>\n
He took out his phone.<\/p>\n
She answered immediately.<\/p>\n
\u201cDaniel?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMom, where are you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAt home.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid Dad transfer money into Carter Family Properties?\u201d<\/p>\n
Silence.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don't know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTwenty-eight thousand dollars.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her breathing changed.<\/p>\n
\u201cRachel is there, isn't she?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPut her on.\u201d<\/p>\n
I took the phone.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn't know he was doing that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid he ask you to accept the money?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you give him access?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI gave him the account years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause he told me the property company needed emergency protection.\u201d<\/p>\n
I closed my eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom, the account is frozen.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNorthstar's funds are under review.\u201d<\/p>\n
She started crying.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour father said everything was settled.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt isn't.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen tell me what you know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI can't.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause he's coming home.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at Daniel.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said he would be there this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n
Elaine took the phone.<\/p>\n
\u201cMrs. Carter, this is Elaine Porter.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mom went silent.<\/p>\n
\u201cI need you to stay where you are,\u201d Elaine said. \u201cDo not sign anything. Do not authorize any transfers.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause your husband may be attempting to create a false chain of authorization.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mom began crying again.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn't understand any of this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Elaine's voice softened.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe believe you.\u201d<\/p>\n
The call ended.<\/p>\n
Daniel stared at the table.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe knew something.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe always knows more than she says.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo do you.\u201d<\/p>\n
He accepted that without argument.<\/p>\n
Mr. Reynolds returned with another file.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is something else.\u201d<\/p>\n
He opened it.<\/p>\n
The twenty-eight-thousand-dollar transfer had not originated from the Northstar account.<\/p>\n
It came from a different account.<\/p>\n
I recognized the number.<\/p>\n
It was the company's reserve account.<\/p>\n
I looked at Elaine.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d<\/p>\n
She read the document.<\/p>\n
Then her face changed.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour father has accessed Carter Home Systems directly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel stood.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHis executive credentials may still be active.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we removed him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAdministrative access wasn't fully terminated.\u201d<\/p>\n
I felt a cold rush through me.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhose responsibility was that?\u201d<\/p>\n
The bank officer answered carefully.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe company's internal security team.\u201d<\/p>\n
I thought of the interim chief executive.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen we have a problem.\u201d<\/p>\n
We left the bank at eight thirty.<\/p>\n
I called the company's security director.<\/p>\n
He answered immediately.<\/p>\n
\u201cRachel?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShut down every former executive credential.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe already did.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo. Someone accessed the reserve account last night.\u201d<\/p>\n
Silence.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat shouldn't be possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it happened.\u201d<\/p>\n
He checked something.<\/p>\n
Then his voice changed.<\/p>\n
\u201cRachel, I have an alert.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat kind?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA physical access event.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe old executive office.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel looked at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat time?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFive twelve this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n
I checked the clock.<\/p>\n
It was almost nine.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs anyone there?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don't know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSend security.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have someone on the way.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon't wait.\u201d<\/p>\n
I hung up.<\/p>\n
Daniel stared at me.<\/p>\n
\u201cDad is at the company.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat else would he be doing there?\u201d<\/p>\n
I didn't answer.<\/p>\n
We drove straight back.<\/p>\n
When we arrived, security vehicles were already outside.<\/p>\n
The main doors were open.<\/p>\n
A security officer ran toward us.<\/p>\n
\u201cMs. Carter.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe found your father's car.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the underground garage.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIs he inside?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe haven't located him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel swore.<\/p>\n
We entered through the service corridor.<\/p>\n
The building was unusually quiet.<\/p>\n
Then I saw the executive elevator.<\/p>\n
Its doors were open.<\/p>\n
A folder lay on the floor.<\/p>\n
Daniel picked it up.<\/p>\n
The first page was an old acquisition agreement.<\/p>\n
Harrison Vale's name was visible.<\/p>\n
I looked at Daniel.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was preparing the sale again.\u201d<\/p>\n
We hurried toward the executive floor.<\/p>\n
My father's office door was open.<\/p>\n
The room had been searched.<\/p>\n
Drawers were hanging open.<\/p>\n
Files were scattered across the floor.<\/p>\n
But Dad wasn't there.<\/p>\n
I walked toward his desk.<\/p>\n
There was a note on top.<\/p>\n
My name was written on it.<\/p>\n
I opened it.<\/p>\n
Three words.<\/p>\n
Ask your mother.<\/p>\n
I stared at the handwriting.<\/p>\n
Daniel stepped closer.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat does it say?\u201d<\/p>\n
I handed him the paper.<\/p>\n
He read it.<\/p>\n
Then his phone rang.<\/p>\n
It was Mom.<\/p>\n
Her voice was shaking.<\/p>\n
\u201cRachel.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour father came here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAbout twenty minutes ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere is he now?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe left.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWith what?\u201d<\/p>\n
Silence.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe took Grandpa's old key.\u201d<\/p>\n
My heart stopped.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhich key?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe one from the lake house.\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked at Daniel.<\/p>\n
He understood immediately.<\/p>\n
There was one place we hadn't searched.<\/p>\n
The bank archive.<\/p>\n
And Grandpa's key had probably been intended for it.<\/p>\n
We drove through the night with the lake disappearing behind us. Daniel said almost nothing. Neither did I. Elaine's warning kept repeating in my head: your father has attempted to … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5727,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5736","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sharestory"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/onesharedstory.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5736","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/onesharedstory.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/onesharedstory.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/onesharedstory.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/onesharedstory.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5736"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/onesharedstory.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5736\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5748,"href":"https:\/\/onesharedstory.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5736\/revisions\/5748"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/onesharedstory.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5727"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/onesharedstory.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5736"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/onesharedstory.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5736"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/onesharedstory.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5736"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}