Chapter 4 - The Financial Trail
By Monday morning, my forensic accountant, David Miller, sat in my home office with three binders full of bank statements, tax documents, and wire transfers.
"Connor," David said, sliding a ledger across the desk. "It’s much worse than you thought."
I stared at the numbers highlighted in yellow.
"Over the past twelve months," David explained, "your mother didn't just spend the $3,000 monthly allowance you sent her. She used the power of attorney she forged to open three credit cards in your name."
"How much?" I asked, my blood running cold.
"Total debt across the cards: ninety-two thousand dollars," David revealed. "She bought a luxury sedan registered under Mason's name, paid off Betsy’s back taxes, and made multiple cash withdrawals at casinos in Tunica."
I slumped back in my leather chair, rubbing my temples. "And the house?"
"She applied for a $350,000 home equity line of credit using the forged quitclaim deed," David continued. "The loan was approved last Thursday. The funds were scheduled to be wired into Mason’s account on Monday afternoon."
If I hadn't come home early on Friday with that blue dress and birthday cake, my mother and cousin would have successfully stolen $350,000, saddled me with $92,000 in credit card debt, and left my wife and child penniless.
My phone rang on the desk. It was the district attorney’s office.
"Mr. Bradley," Prosecutor Katherine Vance said over the speaker. "Your mother’s public defender is requesting a bail hearing this afternoon. She claims this is a misunderstanding between family members and wants to settle out of court."
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I looked at the forged signatures on the loan documents, then thought about Amy scrubbing floors with a feverish baby in her arms.
"No settlement," I said firmly. "Push for maximum charges on every single count."
