sit here and make me sound like a criminal because Rachel screwed up our books.” “I didn’t screw them up.” “You were fired.” “You fired me.” “Because you stole.” “No.” Rachel leaned forward. “You made everyone believe I stole because I found what you were doing.” Lauren’s face flushed. “That is a lie.” Rachel reached into the envelope again. This time, she removed a USB drive. “I copied the original accounting records before you locked me out.” Lauren stared at it. Matthew said: “And that’s why I’ve been helping her.” I turned toward him. “With nearly half a million dollars?” He nodded. “Lauren froze her out of family support. Rachel couldn’t get another accounting job in the area after rumors spread that she’d stolen from her parents.” Rachel looked down.
“I lost my apartment.” “She had two kids,” Matthew continued. I looked toward Sophie and Eli. “So you paid for them.” “Yes.” “Why through an account in my name?” Matthew looked ashamed. “Because I was trying to keep Lauren from finding Rachel.” I stared at him. “You committed identity fraud to hide money from your wife.” He winced. “When you say it like that—” “How else should I say it?” He lowered his eyes. “There isn’t another way.” At least he admitted it. Lauren laughed. “Listen to all of you.” She picked up her wineglass. “Matthew lies to his wife for three years, opens accounts under his mother’s identity, funnels hundreds of thousands to another woman, and somehow I’m the villain?” Rachel looked at her. “You didn’t know it was me until two months ago.”
Lauren froze. Matthew stared at her. “What?” “She found me.” Matthew turned toward Rachel. “You told me she didn’t.” “I was afraid.” He looked back at his wife. “You knew?” Lauren said nothing. “How long?” “This isn’t relevant.” “How long?” “Two months.” His face changed. “You knew I was helping Rachel.” “Yes.” “And you still accused my mother tonight.” Nothing. I looked at the empty suitcase. And suddenly, it made sense in a much darker way. Lauren knew the money hadn’t gone to me. She knew I didn’t own a condo. She knew every accusation she had made against me was false. Yet she had gathered seventeen people. Printed the statements. Wrapped the suitcase. Made sure my grandchildren were watching. I spoke quietly. “You knew I never received that money.”
Lauren looked at me. For the first time all evening, she had nothing prepared. “You knew.” She sighed. “Judith—” “No.” I touched the suitcase. “You gave me this knowing I had nothing to pack.” “It was symbolic.” “Of what?” She didn’t answer. Matthew did. “A distraction.” Lauren looked at him sharply. He stared back. “That’s what this was.” I watched my son understand his own marriage in real time. “You knew Rachel had evidence.” Lauren looked away. “You knew I was helping her.” Nothing. “You knew Mom wasn’t taking the money.” Silence. “And you wanted everyone focused on Mom before Rachel could talk.” Lauren snapped. “Because your mother is always protected!” I stared at her. “What does that have to do with stealing from your parents?” She looked at me with years of resentment in her face.
“Everything comes back to you.” Matthew frowned. “What?” “You run to her whenever we fight.” “I do not.” “You tell her everything.” “I haven’t told Mom any of this.” “Exactly. Because you were protecting Rachel.” “No. I was protecting evidence.” Lauren laughed bitterly. Matthew looked exhausted. “What were you planning?” She didn’t answer. Rachel did. “Tell him about the draft.” Lauren spun toward her. “Don’t.” Matthew så på Rachel. “Hvilket utkast?” Rachel rakte inn i konvolutten en siste gang. Et utskrevet dokument. Hun rakte den til ham. Matteus leste første side. Så stoppet de. Ansiktet hans ble utmattet. “Hva er dette?” Lauren grep etter den. Han trakk den bort. “Hva er dette?” Dennis reiste seg. Matthew så på ham. “Et notat om rettsmedisinsk gjennomgang.” Rachel nikket. “Jeg fant det i filer Lauren sendte til de eksterne regnskapsførerne.” “Det var foreløpig,” sa Lauren. Matthew fortsatte å lese. “Navnet mitt står overalt her.” Ingen sa noe. “Uautoriserte godkjenninger.” Han bladde om. “Leverandørautorisasjon.” En til. “Elektroniske legitimasjoner.” Stemmen hans endret seg. “Du skulle skylde på meg.” “Nei.” “Det var du.” “Nei.” Rachel så på Dennis. “Lauren begynte å forberede seg til en intern revisjon for seks måneder siden.” Dennis stirret på datteren sin. “Vi bestilte ikke en revisjon.” “Du var i ferd med å gjøre det.” Rachel forklarte at en av selskapets långivere hadde bedt om oppdaterte kontroller fordi virksomheten refinansierte lageret sitt. Lauren visste at uregelmessighetene kunne bli oppdaget. Matthew så tilbake på rapporten. “Hun brukte påloggingen min?” Lauren ristet på hodet. “Du hadde tilgang.” “Til hva?” “Firmaportalen.” “Jeg hjalp til med finansieringsavtalen.” “Nettopp.” Matthew stirret på henne. “Du fikk
