Chapter 4 - THE FIRST TRANSFER
By midnight, Emma had found $84,000 she could not explain.
Not missing exactly.
Moved.
Over seventeen months, Adam had transferred irregular amounts from their joint investment account into a business checking account Emma rarely reviewed.
That business belonged to Walker Property Holdings, the small LLC they used for two rental units.
From there, payments went to:
C. Bennett Interiors.
Chloe.
Descriptions included:
Staging consultation.
Design materials.
Property furnishing.
Vendor reimbursement.
Emma owned two rental properties with Adam.
Neither had been staged.
Neither required $84,000 in furniture.
Grace sat beside her at the kitchen table.
“Save everything.”
Emma downloaded statements.
Printed PDFs.
Photographed account numbers.
Then found another transfer.
$46,500.
Three months earlier.
Description:
Project advance – CB Interior Renovation.
Emma looked at Grace.
“There was no project.”
Grace did not answer.
She was reading.
Another.
$31,000.
Then $12,500.
Total payments to Chloe’s company in eighteen months:
$174,000.
Emma felt physically ill.
“The affair started four years ago.”
Grace nodded.
“The money started later.”
“Why?”
Grace looked at her.
“That’s what we need to find out.”
At 12:41 a.m., Adam texted Emma.
We need to talk tomorrow.
Emma stared.
Four years.
A suitcase.
$174,000.
And now he wanted tomorrow.
She did not respond.
Then another message:
Please don’t do anything impulsive.
Emma laughed.
Grace looked up.
“What?”
Emma turned the phone toward her.
Grace read it.
“That’s useful.”
“How?”
“He’s already framing you.”
Emma stopped laughing.
Grace continued.
“If there’s a financial dispute coming, he wants a record that he was calm and you were unstable.”
Emma looked at the message again.
Please don’t do anything impulsive.
Suddenly it did not sound caring.
It sounded strategic.
She replied only:
I’ll communicate through counsel regarding finances.
Adam called immediately.
Emma declined.
Then Chloe called.
She declined that too.
Linda called next.
Emma answered.
“Mom.”
“Are you safe?”
“Yes.”
“Adam isn’t there?”
“No.”
Linda exhaled.
Then said:
“Chloe left.”
“Where?”
“I don’t know.”
Emma closed her eyes.
Of course.
Linda continued.
“She told me the money wasn’t what it looks like.”
Emma almost laughed.
“Did she tell you what it looks like?”
“No.”
“Then how does she know?”
Silence.
Linda began crying.
“I don’t know who she is right now.”
May you like
Emma looked at the financial statements.
“I’m not sure I do either.”
