Chapter 1 - THE NAME ON THE ACCOUNT
She could not withdraw money, but she could see the balance, receive account notices, and make administrative requests.
That was enough to make my hands go cold.
Renley’s college account held nearly forty-two thousand dollars.
My parents had contributed to it every birthday since she was born.
I had deposited part of every annual bonus I earned.
Callum’s grandmother had left Renley five thousand dollars when she died.
It was not family money in the vague way Callum’s relatives liked to describe things.
It belonged to Renley’s future.
I called the investment company before I called my husband.
The representative was careful.
“Yes, Mrs. Mercer, Deline Mercer was added as an interested contact eighteen months ago.”
“By whom?”
There was a pause.
“The request came from an authorized account holder.”
“There are only two authorized account holders.”
“You and Mr. Mercer.”
I closed my eyes.
“Was my signature required?”
“Not for an informational contact.”
“What can an informational contact do?”
“She cannot withdraw funds or change ownership, but she can receive duplicate statements and discuss certain administrative matters.”
“Why would my husband’s sister need to discuss my daughter’s college account?”
The representative did not answer.
She did not have to.
I removed Deline while I was still on the phone.
Then I changed the mailing preferences, added a verbal security code, and requested the entire account history.
At 5:17 that evening, Callum walked through our kitchen door.
He looked tired.
I had placed three folders on the island.
Cedar Hollow Credit Union.
Lake cabin renovation.
Renley’s college savings.
He stopped when he saw them.
“You went digging.”
“No.”
I looked at him.
“I went reading.”
He loosened his tie.
“Evelyn—”
“Why was Deline receiving statements for Renley’s college fund?”
His expression changed almost imperceptibly.
That tiny movement frightened me more than anger would have.
“She helped Mom organize some estate paperwork.”
“Mom’s estate has nothing to do with Renley’s account.”
“It was complicated.”
“No.”
I pushed the statement toward him.
“It was eighteen months ago.”
He rubbed his forehead.
“She wanted to know whether Renley already had enough set aside.”
“For what?”
He hesitated.
That was when I understood there was another question I had not yet asked.
“For what, Callum?”
His eyes moved toward the staircase.
Renley was upstairs doing spelling homework.
When he finally looked back at me, his voice had dropped.
“Deline was trying to determine how much Grandma’s trust would need to contribute to the grandchildren.”
“That makes no sense.”
“I know.”
“Then tell me the part that does.”
Callum sat down.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he whispered the sentence that opened the next door.
May you like
“Deline thought some of Renley’s money should have gone to Poppy.”
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