Chapter 13 - Kyle’s Second Lie
I called him from the courthouse steps.
No answer.
Again.
No answer.
By the fifth call, I wanted to throw my phone.
Benjamin told me not to assume anything.
I was done giving people the benefit of the doubt.
“He knew the account,” I said. “He knew the money. Maybe this whole confession was to distract us.”
Maya shook her head.
“The access attempt came from an account in Kyle’s name. That doesn’t mean he made it.”
“It has his name.”
“So did the affidavit Vanessa wrote for him.”
That stopped me.
We drove back to the office.
At 1:17 p.m., Kyle finally called.
He sounded furious.
“I didn’t do it.”
“Where are you?”
“At my apartment.”
“Why did you leave court?”
“Because my mom’s lawyer texted me during the hearing and said she was going to report me for stealing from the trust unless I backed off.”
Benjamin held out his hand.
I put the call on speaker.
Kyle continued.
“She opened that account for me two years ago. Said it was for restaurant investors.”
Maya asked, “Did she have access credentials?”
“Yes.”
“Did you ever use it for trust money?”
“Not knowingly.”
I closed my eyes.
Not knowingly.
The phrase of the week.
Kyle said, “Check the login location.”
Maya typed while he spoke.
A few minutes later she found it.
The transfer attempt came from an IP address linked to a private office suite downtown.
V.H. Consulting.
Vanessa.
I sat back.
“She tried to make it look like Kyle.”
“Yes,” Benjamin said.
My anger shifted again.
It was exhausting.
Before the call ended, Kyle said, “Grace, I need you to know something.”
“What?”
“My mom told me this morning that if she loses the house, she’s leaving the country.”
“Where?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did she say when?”
“No.”
Benjamin leaned toward the phone.
“Kyle, does she have another passport?”
A pause.
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“She keeps it in a safe in the house.”
Benjamin and Maya looked at each other.
The court order prohibited removal of trust property.
Not Vanessa herself.
“She can leave,” Benjamin said after the call. “But if she takes records or money, that’s different.”
I looked at the clock.
I had been legally restored access to the house.
I had not been inside since Vanessa threw me out.
“I’m going home.”
Benjamin studied me.
“You should not go alone.”
“Then come with me.”
Maya came too.
At 3:02 p.m., I stood on the porch again.
Same front door.
Same brass handle.
But this time I had a certified court order in my hand.
I knocked.
No answer.
I used my old key.
It worked.
Inside, the house was silent.
Too silent.
We walked toward Dad’s office.
The door was open.
The safe stood empty.
The desk drawers had been pulled out.
Files covered the floor.
And across the far wall, written in black marker, were five words.
May you like
YOU SHOULD HAVE LEFT ME ALONE.
Then we heard a car engine roar in the driveway.
