A chair creaked in the background.
Grandma continued.
“The money in your education account was transferred because I discovered that someone had been using your identity. I believed the person had access to our home, our mail, and information only family would know.”
Mom covered her mouth.
I stared at the laptop screen.
“I first suspected the account had been touched when a withdrawal appeared that I did not authorize. I asked the bank for records. The request was made using your mother’s information, but I do not believe your mother made it.”
Mom began to cry silently.
Grandma’s voice faltered, then steadied.
“I asked her to help me move the funds temporarily. She agreed because she was frightened too. But the transfer did not go where I instructed.”
Mr. Ellis looked sharply at Mom.
I felt cold spread through my arms.
Grandma continued.
“I discovered that the protected account had been redirected before your mother could access it. The money was not lost. It was moved again.”
“To where?” I whispered, though the recording could not answer me.
Grandma seemed to hear the question.
“The person responsible left a trail. I kept copies in the storage unit. I also kept the original message they sent me.”
A pause.
Then her voice dropped.
“If Daniel tells you he does not know where the money went, believe him. He has been trying to help me find it.”
Daniel lowered his head.
“I was afraid your mother would be blamed for everything,” Grandma said. “She made mistakes. She stayed away too long. She allowed shame to become an excuse. But this is not her crime.”
Mom’s sob caught in her throat.
I closed my eyes.
Grandma’s voice continued.
“The person who redirected the account knew about your education, your nursing plans, and the money I had saved. They knew because they had access to information inside the bank.”
The audio crackled.
“Her name is—”
The recording stopped.
The storage unit fell silent.
“What happened?” I asked.
Daniel moved toward the laptop. “That’s the whole file.”
“No.”
I clicked the audio again. It ended at the same point.
“Her name is—”
Then nothing.
Mr. Ellis opened the scanned document. It was a bank access report, but the lower half had been cut off.
At the top was a customer service employee’s name.
**Elaine Porter.**
Mom stared at it.
