Chapter 4 - THE VOICE MESSAGES
Grant’s first message sounded almost kind.
“Josephine, your mom says you’re upset. I understand. Adults make mistakes. Give us a little time.”
The second was firmer.
“Please don’t create a crisis while your father’s project is under review.”
Then:
“Your dad is responsible for some serious paperwork at work. If he starts accusing people, things could become difficult.”
Then:
“Your father signed things he probably doesn’t remember signing.”
That message terrified her.
Josephine asked Rebecca what Grant meant.
Rebecca said:
“Exactly what I warned you.”
By week three, Grant stopped pretending.
“If Elias starts digging, accounting will have to dig too.”
“You don’t want your father blamed for missing material.”
“Think about your family before you speak.”
Josephine saved every message.
She did not know why.
Some instinct told her not to delete them.
Then she found the envelope.
Rebecca had hidden it in the back of Josephine’s closet while contractors replaced flooring in the master bedroom.
Josephine thought it was school paperwork.
Instead she found $9,000 in cash.
Hotel receipts.
A prepaid phone.
And construction invoices.
Several had Elias’s digital signature.
One referenced lumber delivery to the Westbridge development.
Josephine knew that site.
Her father talked about it constantly.
Another invoice listed $38,700 in custom framing material.
Another:
$22,450.
Another:
$41,100.
More than $100,000.
Josephine showed Rebecca.
Her mother snatched the papers.
Then stared at her daughter.
“You cannot tell Dad.”
“Why is his name on these?”
“Because he approves field materials.”
“Did he approve these?”
Rebecca did not answer.
That silence terrified Josephine more than Grant’s calls.
Rebecca stuffed everything into the envelope.
Then hid it under Josephine’s backpack again because Grant was coming over and the master bedroom was being painted.
May you like
Three days later Elias came home early.
And crawled beneath the bed.
