Chapter 9: The Signature That Changed Everything
My mother stared at the statement as though the signature might change if she looked at it long enough.
It didn't.
Her name was written beneath the authorization line in neat, careful letters.
Denise Reed.
I looked at her.
"Did you take the money?""
She shook her head so quickly that her twists moved against her cheeks.
"No.""
"That's your signature.""
"I know what my signature looks like, Nico.""
"Then explain it!""
She took the statement from my hand and examined it closely.
"I didn't authorize this withdrawal.""
Andre remained beside the doorway, his keys clenched in his fist.
I turned toward him.
"You said you didn't make it.""
"I didn't.""
"Then somebody forged her signature?""
He looked at the paper.
"Apparently.""
My mother lowered herself into the chair.
"That account was supposed to be protected.""
I stared at her.
"You knew about the second account?""
She nodded.
"Your father told me he had opened another savings account for you. He said it was for emergencies and college expenses. I didn't have access to it.""
"Then how is your signature on the withdrawal?""
"I don't know!""
Her voice broke.
I stepped back.
The room felt like it was closing around us again.
First Aaliyah. Then Andre. Then Kiara.
Then my father. Now my mother.
Every time I thought I'd found the bottom of the lie, another secret appeared beneath it.
I pulled the statement from her hands.
"Who had access to this account?""
Mom wiped her face.
"Your father, obviously. And whoever was authorized by the bank.""
"Was Andre authorized?""
"No.""
I looked at my brother.
He shook his head.
"I told you I didn't take it.""
"But you knew the account existed.""
He hesitated.
"Yes.""
I stared at him.
"How?""
Andre looked toward the window.
"Because Dad told me about it.""
"When?""
"Last year.""
"Why would Dad tell you about my account?""
"He asked me to make sure you understood what it was for when you turned eighteen.""
I laughed.
"That's convenient.""
"I know.""
"Everybody knows something about my future except me.""
Andre lowered his head.
I looked at the statement again.
The withdrawal had occurred three weeks earlier.
The same period when Aaliyah had told Andre she was pregnant.
The same period when my brother had suddenly become desperate to keep everyone from talking.
I looked at him.
"Did you know about this withdrawal before today?""
He shook his head.
"No.""
"Think carefully.""
"I swear to you, Nico. I didn't know.""
I wanted to believe him.
That frightened me.
Because trusting my brother had brought me here.
I turned toward Mom.
"We need to call the bank.""
She nodded immediately.
"Yes.""
"And Dad.""
Her expression changed.
"Your father hasn't answered my calls in months.""
"Then call again.""
Mom reached for her phone.
I sat beside her while she dialed. The line rang several times before a recorded voice announced that the person she was calling was unavailable.
She tried again.
Nothing.
Finally, she sent a text.
We need to talk about Nico's account. Money has been withdrawn without authorization. Call me immediately.
I stared at the screen.
"How long until he answers?""
"I don't know.""
I stood.
"I'm calling him myself.""
Mom caught my hand.
"Please don't let this turn into another fight.""
I looked at her.
"Then somebody needs to stop giving me reasons to fight.""
She released me.
I called my father.
The phone rang six times.
Then his voicemail answered.
I almost hung up.
Instead, I left a message.
"Dad, it's Nico. There's money missing from my account. Mom's signature is on the withdrawal, but she says she didn't authorize it.
Andre says he didn't take it. I need you to call me back today.""
I ended the call.
For several minutes, we sat in silence.
Then Andre spoke.
"I think I know who might have done it.""
My head snapped toward him.
"Who?""
He swallowed.
"A man named Curtis.""
Mom frowned.
"Who's Curtis?""
"He was the person I worked with on the car deal.""
I stared at him.
"The person who disappeared with your money?""
"Yes.""
"Why would he have access to my account?""
"He shouldn't.""
"Then why bring him up?""
Andre rubbed his face.
"Because when I was trying to get the money back, he told me he knew somebody who could help me borrow against family assets.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"What family assets?""
"He didn't give me details. He just said that if I had a relative with savings, there might be a way to get a short-term loan without involving them directly.""
My mother stood so quickly that the chair scraped across the floor.
"You were talking to somebody about using Nico's money?""
"No! I told him I wasn't interested.""
"But you knew it was possible!""
"I didn't know he would try something like this!""
I stepped toward Andre.
"Did you tell him about my account?""
He shook his head.
"Not directly.""
"Not directly?""
"I told him my father had set aside money for us. I never gave him your account number or your mother's signature.""
I stared at him.
"How much did you tell him?""
Andre looked sick.
"I told him you were supposed to get money for college.""
I felt the anger return so quickly that my vision blurred.
"You told a stranger about my savings?""
"I didn't think—"
"No, you didn't!""
I struck the table with my palm.
The envelope jumped.
Andre fell silent.
My mother stood between us.
"Enough! We are not going to solve anything by screaming.""
I took a breath.
She was right about that much.
I walked to the sink and ran cold water over my hands. My reflection in the dark kitchen window looked older than it had yesterday.
I was still seventeen.
But I felt as if I'd been forced to become an adult in the span of two days.
Behind me, Mom picked up the phone again.
This time, she called the bank.
She put it on speaker.
After a few minutes of automated instructions, a representative answered. Mom explained that a withdrawal had been made from an account belonging to her son and that she believed the authorization signature had been forged.
The representative asked several questions.
Mom supplied the account details from the statement.
Then the representative paused.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Reed. I'm not able to discuss the account without verifying the authorized parties.""
"I'm his mother.""
"I understand, ma'am. However, I need to speak with the account holder or an authorized representative.""
Mom looked at me.
I stepped forward and answered the security questions I could.
The representative confirmed that the withdrawal had been processed through a branch three weeks earlier.
I asked whether they had a record of who submitted the paperwork.
She explained that the bank would need to review the transaction and that we should file a formal dispute.
Then I asked the question that mattered most.
"Can you tell me whether the money is still in the account it was transferred to?""
"I'm afraid I can't disclose the destination account information over this call.""
"Can you freeze the account?""
"We can place a temporary restriction on the affected account while we investigate. I can explain the required steps.""
Mom and I followed her instructions.
The process took nearly forty minutes.
When the call ended, the withdrawal had been formally disputed, and the bank had opened an investigation.
It wasn't a solution.
But it was the first concrete thing we'd done all day.
I sat down.
Mom put a hand on my shoulder.
"We'll get through this.""
I looked at her hand.
"I need you to stop promising me that.""
She slowly withdrew it.
I hated seeing her hurt.
But I couldn't keep accepting comfort in place of answers.
My phone rang.
An unfamiliar number appeared on the screen.
I answered.
"Hello?""
A man's voice came through.
"Is this Nico Reed?""
"Yes.""
"My name is Daniel. I'm calling from the bank's fraud review team. We received the dispute filed earlier today.""
I sat straighter.
"Okay.""
"I need to ask you a few questions about the withdrawal and the person who may have submitted the authorization.""
I looked at Mom and put the call on speaker.
"Go ahead.""
The representative asked whether I recognized the name on the recipient account.
I told him I didn't.
Then he asked whether anyone in my family had recently requested access to my education funds.
I glanced at Andre.
"No one had my permission to withdraw money.""
"Understood. One detail may be important to the investigation. The withdrawal request was submitted with identification documents associated with your family.""
My mother went still.
"What identification documents?"" she asked.
The representative explained that he couldn't provide the full details until the review was complete, but he could confirm that the paperwork included a copy of an identification document and a signed authorization.
I felt cold.
"Whose identification?""
There was a brief pause.
Then he answered.
"Your mother's identification was included in the submission.""
Mom covered her mouth.
"But I didn't submit anything.""
"I understand, ma'am. That's why the transaction is being investigated.""
The representative continued.
"There is one more thing I need to tell you. The receiving account was opened under a different name, but the application lists a family contact as the person who referred the applicant.""
My pulse quickened.
"Who?""
"I'm sorry. I can't disclose that information until the identity review is complete.""
"Can you tell us whether the name belongs to somebody we know?""
Another pause.
"I can tell you that the referral information matches a contact number already associated with the account holder's family records.""
I stared at the phone.
"What does that mean?""
"It means the next step is to verify the documents and establish who submitted them. We will contact you when that review is complete.""
The call ended a few minutes later.
Nobody spoke.
Then my mother whispered, "Your father has your old paperwork.""
I turned toward her.
"What paperwork?""
"Copies of your birth certificate. Your Social Security card. Things he kept when you were younger.""
Andre looked at the floor.
I noticed.
"Why are you looking like that?""
He shook his head.
"I'm not.""
"Andre.""
He lifted his eyes.
"I remembered something.""
I stood.
"What?""
He swallowed.
"Three weeks ago, Curtis called me. He said he was having trouble getting money from somebody, and he asked whether I knew a way to contact Dad.""
My heart began pounding.
"You said no?""
"Yes.""
"Did you tell him Dad's number?""
"No.""
"Did you tell him where Dad lives?""
Andre hesitated.
I felt my stomach drop.
"Andre.""
"I told him the city. That's all.""
Mom sank into the chair.
I stared at my brother.
"You gave a man who owes you money our father's location?""
"I didn't think he'd do anything!""
"You didn't think about anything!""
Andre looked as though he might cry.
I turned away, struggling to breathe.
Then my phone vibrated.
A message from my father.
Call me. Now. Do not discuss the account with anyone else until I explain what happened.
I stared at the screen.
Before I could reply, another message appeared.
And Nico, whatever Andre tells you about Curtis, don't believe him. Your brother knows exactly why that money was withdrawn.
I slowly lifted my head.
Andre was watching me.
My mother looked between us.
"What did your father say?"" she whispered.
I held up the phone.
Andre read the message.
Then, for the first time since this entire nightmare began, he looked genuinely terrified.
May you like
Because whatever my father believed, it was clear he thought my brother had been lying about more than one thing.
And I was done waiting for somebody else to decide when I deserved the truth.
