Chapter 6 - THE MONEY THAT VANISHED
Three days later, Audrey received a call from her father.
His voice was shaking.
"Ethan says the investment company isn't answering."
Audrey closed her eyes.
"Did you contact your bank?"
"Yes."
"And?"
"They said the transfer was authorized."
Audrey sat down.
"How much did you send?"
Silence.
"Dad?"
Richard swallowed.
"Four hundred and eighty thousand."
Audrey stared.
"Four hundred and eighty?"
He began crying.
"I thought Ethan knew what he was doing."
Audrey pressed a hand to her forehead.
Her parents had spent forty years saving.
They'd lived carefully.
Skipped vacations.
Paid off their house.
And now nearly half a million dollars was gone.
She took a breath.
"Dad, listen to me. Save every email, every contract, every bank statement. Don't send another dollar."
He nodded through tears.
"Can you fix it?"
Audrey closed her eyes.
The familiar question.
The familiar expectation.
She wanted to scream.
Instead, she said, "I can help you report it and find an attorney. I can't promise recovery."
Audrey contacted a financial-crimes attorney.
She helped her parents prepare a detailed timeline.
The attorney reported the suspected fraud to the appropriate authorities and worked with the banks to seek recovery.
Meanwhile, Ethan insisted the money would return.
"It's a temporary delay."
Audrey stared at him.
"Based on what?"
"Victor said—"
"Victor isn't answering."
Ethan looked away.
Audrey's voice softened.
"Ethan, you need to stop defending him."
He swallowed.
Then whispered, "I know."
That evening, Audrey found an envelope beneath her apartment door.
Inside was a photocopy of a financial transfer record.
The receiving company had an unfamiliar name.
But the beneficial ownership information included a familiar surname.
Serrano.
Audrey stared.
May you like
Then whispered:
"Dominic?"
