I tapped the speaker icon and placed my phone on the bare kitchen counter.
“Avery!” my mother shouted.
Her voice was sharp with the outrage of someone who had expected obedience and received consequences instead.
Airport announcements crackled behind her, followed by the rolling thunder of suitcase wheels.
“What did you do to our accounts?”
Naomi Ward, the bank’s fraud investigator, remained silent on my second phone.
She had already told me the call was being recorded with my consent.
I stared at the yellow note my mother had left behind.
Don’t bother calling.
We are finally choosing happiness.
“I didn’t do anything to your accounts,” I said.
“Why are you calling me?”
“Our cards are frozen.
The hotel says the reservation payment failed.
Brittany’s debit card won’t work, and the airline won’t let us charge the upgrade.
Call the bank and tell them to release the money.”
“The money you took from me?”
My mother lowered her voice, as though a softer tone might transform theft into a misunderstanding.
“It’s family money.
You have more than you need, and Brittany deserves a chance to enjoy her life.
Stop being dramatic and give me your security code.”
Across the kitchen, the police officer photographing the damaged lock paused and looked toward me.
I kept my hands flat against the counter.
“How did you transfer it?”
“With the authorization you signed.”
“What authorization?”
“The power of attorney.
Don’t play stupid, Avery.
I submitted the paperwork, the bank approved it, and the money appeared in our account.
That means it was legal.”
Naomi sent a message to my screen.
Keep her talking.
I asked, “Who witnessed me sign it?”
My mother went quiet for half a second.
Then she laughed.
“Elaine did.
She remembers.
And if you try to claim otherwise, I’ll tell the police you gave us the furniture and staged the burglary because you regretted helping your own family.”
Brittany’s voice rose in the background.
“Ask her about the jewelry.
The airline employee said police might search our bags.”
“Be quiet,” my mother snapped.
A file arrived from Naomi.
