Chapter 3 - Landed in Paradise
The heat of Cancún hit Daniel Vance like a wet towel to the face as he stepped out of the air-conditioned terminal at Cancún International Airport.
Beside him, Kendra was adjusting her wide-brimmed straw hat and checking her reflection in her phone screen.
"God, it’s so humid," Kendra complained, fanning herself with a oversized passport holder. "Did you book the private suburban transport from the resort, Babe? I am not taking a shared shuttle with tourists."
"Of course I booked the private suburban," Daniel said, smoothing the collar of his designer linen shirt. He reached into his leather travel pouch and pulled out his phone. "It’s the Royal Palms Riviera. Five-star all-inclusive penthouse suite. Ten grand for the week."
"Your mom didn't throw a fit about the money?" Kendra asked, tilting her head as they walked toward the luxury transport counters inside the arrival hall.
Daniel chuckled, a bitter, dismissive sound. "What’s she going to do? She’s stuck upstairs. She doesn't even know how to reset the Wi-Fi router. Besides, it’s my money anyway. My dad built those hotels for us. She’s just sitting on the trust because she likes feeling powerful."
He approached the polished marble counter of the Royal Palms concierge desk. A young Mexican man in a crisp white uniform smiled warmly at them.
"Welcome to Cancún, Mr. and Mrs. Vance!" the clerk said smoothly. "We have your private GMC Yukon waiting right outside. May I just have your credit card for the final balance and the incidentals deposit before we board?"
"Sure thing," Daniel said casually. He pulled out the black corporate debit card tied to the Vance Family Holding Trust—the card he had taken from his mother’s desk three days prior.
He swiped it through the terminal.
The clerk waited. The small screen on the machine blinked. A low, sharp beep chimed twice.
DECLINED.
Daniel frowned. "Try it again. The chip is probably dirty."
The clerk wiped the magnetic strip on his sleeve and swiped it a second time.
DECLINED - TRANSACTION REJECTED BY ISSUER.
"Sir, it appears the card has been declined by your bank," the clerk said politely, his smile remaining professional.
"That's impossible," Daniel snapped, his voice rising. "There’s over two hundred thousand dollars in liquid operating funds in that account! Use the tap."
He tapped the card.
ACCOUNT FROZEN / CALL AUTHORIZATION.
Kendra stopped looking at her phone, her eyes narrowing. "Daniel? What’s going on?"
"Nothing, babe, the international banking system is just glitching," Daniel said, a bead of sweat forming at his hairline. He pulled out his personal Visa card—the one he used for his everyday expenses. "Here. Put the deposit on this one."
The clerk processed the card.
DECLINED.
Daniel’s heart took a sickening drop. "What?!"
He pulled out his American Express card. The one he had used to buy their flight tickets three weeks ago.
DECLINED.
"Sir," the clerk said, his voice losing its warm friendliness and turning distinctly cool. "None of your cards are clearing. Do you have another form of payment? Cash, perhaps? The total for the transport and room deposit is four thousand, eight hundred US dollars."
"I don't carry five grand in cash!" Daniel yelled, slamming his hand on the marble counter. A few nearby tourists turned to look. "Listen to me, I am Daniel Vance! My family owns the Vance Hotel Group in New England! Check your system!"
"Mr. Vance, I do not care if you own the moon," the clerk said flatly. "Without a valid form of payment, I cannot release the transport vehicle, nor can I honor your reservation at the resort."
"Daniel, do something!" Kendra hissed, grabbing his arm, her cheeks turning bright red. "People are staring! Fix it!"
Daniel whipped out his cell phone, his fingers flying across the screen as he dialed his mother’s home phone number. He put it on speaker.
“The number you have dialed has been disconnected or is no longer in service.”
Panicking now, Daniel dialed his mother’s personal cell phone.
It rang once. Then a cold, professional voice answered.
"Vance Family Trust Legal Offices. This is Attorney Margaret Sloan."
Daniel blinked, his voice shaking. "Margaret? Why are you answering my mother's phone?! Where is my mom?"
"Mrs. Evelyn Vance is currently residing safely in her fully restored estate," Margaret’s voice boomed through the speaker, so clear and sharp that Kendra could hear every word. "And I am calling to inform you, Daniel, that as of 2:00 PM Eastern Standard Time, all power of attorney documents bearing your name have been permanently revoked under Section 4 of the Massachusetts Elder Protection Act."
"What are you talking about?!" Daniel screamed into the phone. "My cards aren't working! I'm in Mexico!"
"I know where you are, Daniel," Margaret said coldly. "And your cards are not working because your access to every account, trust, property, and asset associated with the Vance estate has been terminated. You have been removed as a beneficiary due to documented felony elder endangerment."
"You can't do this!" Daniel yelled, tears of rage springing to his eyes. "That money is mine! My father left it!"
"Your father left everything to your mother," Margaret corrected softly. "And your mother has just signed the papers transferring the entire management portfolio to a board of trustees. Oh, and Daniel?"
"What?!"
May you like
"The local sheriff has recovered her custom wheelchair from the truck driver you sold it to. It is back in her room. And the locks on the estate were changed two hours ago. Enjoy Cancún."
The line went dead.
