Daniel comes home after a year of military service, hoping to surprise his sister on her wedding day. But instead of welcoming him happily, Margaret glares at him and orders him to leave immediately.
Daniel hailed a taxi as he exited the airport, barely able to contain his excitement. It had taken much pleading with his seniors in the Army to get this one-week break for his little sister’s wedding.
But he had made it happen.
After their parents’ deaths, Daniel always felt responsible for Margaret, even after she became an adult. He was looking forward to her wedding because it was a chance to bridge the gap between them. They both knew how distant they’d become as adults.
The taxi stopped outside the venue.
Daniel entered the restaurant, clutching Margaret’s favorite lilies, and spotted her in a wedding gown at a table, her husband, Gary, by her side…
“Hello, sis!” Daniel exclaimed happily, approaching her.
Margaret’s face twisted with anger. “How dare you come here after what you did, Daniel?” she fumed as she sprang to her feet.
Daniel was confused. “Wh-what did I do?”
“Stop playing games, Daniel!” she snapped.
“The vault…Mom and Dad’s inheritance for us…It’s gone!”
Daniel listened in shock as Margaret narrated how she’d wanted to take their mother’s jewelry from the vault before the wedding but found it empty. Since nobody but Daniel and Margaret knew about the vault, Margaret suspected Daniel was the one who emptied it.
“You better leave now, Danny. We’ll sort this out later!” Margaret said hurtfully as she began returning to her seat.
But Daniel grabbed her hand.
“I didn’t take anything, Maggie! How could you even accuse me of that?”
“Stop it, Daniel,” Gary stepped in. “Don’t ruin your sister’s big day.
And please, leave now.”
Extremely hurt and confused, Daniel left the venue. He checked into a motel for his temporary stay.
The next day, Daniel visited the bank where the vault was. He approached the customer assistance desk and inquired if he could get the vault’s access history.
The woman at the desk asked for his details and revealed the vault was accessed on the 15th of the last month by Mr.
Goodwin’s son. Daniel was shocked because he was away at the time.
“Can you tell me who authorized it? Were any documents signed?” he asked.
“Yes.
The papers have a digital signature from D. Goodwin,” the woman said, looking at her screen. “And a bank associate witnessed the access.”
“Someone must’ve impersonated me!
I need to check the CCTVs.”
“Sorry, sir. We can’t allow you to access it.”
“Look, this isn’t a typical situation,” Daniel said and discretely slid $1000 toward her. “Over half a million dollars have disappeared, ma’am.
Please.”
The woman paused for a while, then accepted the money. “Fine. But prepare another $200 for the security guard outside the video room,” she said.
Ten minutes later, Daniel was in the recording room.
“What date and time are we looking for?” the guard sitting before the screens asked.
“The 15th of last month.
The story doesn’t end here — it continues on the next page.
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