Chapter 9 - The Missing Money
Clara called the school office at seven the next morning. The registrar confirmed that no contact information had been changed, but someone had attempted to access Maya’s records using Jason’s old password.
“Please place a security note on both children’s files,” Clara said. “No changes without direct verification from me.”
The registrar’s voice softened. “Is everything okay at home?”
“We’re going through a separation.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Thank you. The children are safe.”
That sentence became Clara’s daily anchor. The children were safe. They had food, a bed, school, and adults who were trying to protect them. The marriage could be broken without breaking them.
Two days later, Jason filed for divorce.
Nina called before the electronic notice arrived. “He filed in Travis County this morning. We’ll respond and request temporary orders.”
Clara sat in her office, staring at the framed certificate recognizing her for uncovering fraud in a construction project. “He filed first.”
“That does not give him an advantage on the facts.”
“His petition says I isolated him from the children.”
“Did you?”
“No.”
“Then we’ll show the parenting messages.”
The petition also claimed that Clara had hidden marital assets, controlled all household accounts, and threatened to cut Jason off from the children unless he surrendered property.
“He’s using my actions to describe his,” Clara said.
“That happens when someone wants to change the subject.”
Temporary orders were set for the following week. Until then, Jason could see the children by agreement. He picked them up Friday evening and returned them Sunday afternoon.
Before he left, Maya asked, “Are we still going to the cabin?”
Jason glanced at Clara. “Your mom has plans.”
“We’re planting potatoes,” Clara said.
“Your mother has a lot of plans,” Jason replied.
Clara stepped between them. “The children do not need commentary.”
Jason took a breath. “You’re right.”
It was a small correction, but Leo noticed. He watched his father drive away, then asked, “Is Dad learning?”
“I hope so.”
At work, Ana found another discrepancy. “The debt-resolution company received payments from a second account,” she said. “A personal account in Jason’s name.”
Clara opened the spreadsheet. “He had an account I didn’t know about.”
“It was opened nine months ago.”
“Any deposits?”
“Commissions. Cash deposits. And one transfer from a woman named Marissa Cole.”
Clara recognized the name. Marissa was a salesperson at Jason’s dealership.
The transfer was labeled “advance.”
Clara called Nina. “There’s another account and an unexplained payment from a coworker.”
“We’ll include it in the disclosure request.”
“Could he be hiding income?”
“Possibly. Don’t investigate by accessing his account. We’ll obtain records legally.”
That night, Jason called from his apartment.
“Marissa was helping me with a loan,” he said before Clara asked anything.
“How did you know I knew about her?”
“Chloe told me you were looking.”
“I’m not looking at your private accounts. I’m reviewing information provided through counsel.”
“It was a loan. She believed I could pay her back.”
“Why did you need money from her if you had access to our joint account?”
“Because the joint account was for bills.”
“Eighteen thousand dollars went to debt settlement.”
He fell silent.
“What did you tell Marissa?”
“That I was getting a bonus.”
“Are you?”
“Not yet.”
“Jason, did you promise her part of a dealership commission?”
“This is none of your business.”
“You made it part of our financial disclosure.”
“You’re enjoying watching me fail.”
“I am trying to understand the truth.”
“The truth is I borrowed money to protect people you would have abandoned.”
After he hung up, Clara opened the black notebook photographs again. Beneath the page about the cabin was a name she had overlooked: “M. Cole—advance, $4,500.”
May you like
The line was dated two days before Jason had told Clara the dealership was having a slow month.
For the first time, Clara wondered whether the secret account held more than debt.
