The next fifteen minutes felt endless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Patricia paced near the dining room window while Uncle Robert stood silently across from her.
Every time she reached for her phone, Grandma\u2019s cold voice stopped her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPut it down.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then the doorbell rang.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Two attorneys entered carrying folders and a laptop.
Grandma didn\u2019t waste a second.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShow me every transfer connected to my granddaughter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The records appeared on the screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My breath caught.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There it was\u2014$180,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the account number wasn\u2019t mine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It belonged to a private account under Patricia\u2019s name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Uncle Robert stared at his wife.
\u201cYou told me that account was closed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Patricia\u2019s lips trembled.
\u201cI can explain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo,\u201d Grandma said sharply.
\u201cYou will explain everything.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One transfer after another appeared: luxury hotel payments, credit-card debts, and a $42,000 payment to someone none of us recognized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then one attorney suddenly stopped scrolling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMrs. Whitmore,\u201d he said slowly, \u201cthere\u2019s another transfer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Grandma\u2019s face hardened.
\u201cHow much?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThree hundred thousand dollars.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The room went completely silent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My mother covered her mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I looked at Patricia, and for the first time, she wasn\u2019t looking at me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She was staring at the screen in terror.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because beneath that transfer was a note that made Grandma slowly turn toward her and whisper:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPatricia\u2026 why does this say the money was taken from Lily\u2019s inheritance?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n