Chapter 16 #3
Austin’s gaze locked on mine. “What are you talking about?”
Belinda frowned and looked to her partner. “What’s he talking about, Austin?”
“Nothing,” Austin spat, keeping his gaze fixed on me. “He’s just stirring trouble.”
The constable deposited the statements in Wright’s hand, and the detective handed them to Austin.
Austin glowered at the wad of papers. “What are these?”
“Account statements going back six months,” I answered before Wright had a chance to.
“Chloe took us to her bank yesterday. She asked me to consider having power of attorney over her finances. I said I’d need to check out her accounts first and see what was involved, what with your comments about her mental acuity and all.
I wanted to make sure I had up-to-date information. ”
Austin’s eyes blew wide, and this time, he looked genuinely shocked.
The sight appeased my bitchy little heart.
“She asked you?” He shook his head. “I’m calling bullshit.” He spun to Wright. “I told you they were up to something. This is what they wanted all along.” He stabbed a finger my way. “He wants control of Chloe’s finances. You have to stop them.”
Wright considered Austin with an inscrutable expression in place. “My partner has already contacted the bank and spoken to the teller concerned.”
News to me.
“The man was quite comfortable with what transpired yesterday. No forms were signed, no money withdrawn, and Nick was given no access to Chloe’s accounts . . . unlike you, Mister Pattinson. So if you would kindly take a look at the printouts and then comment as you see fit.”
Austin glared at the detective for a long moment, then grunted something unintelligible and began flicking through the accounts, Belinda looking over his shoulder.
When he was done, Austin gave a huff of disgust and threw a vicious look my way.
“Are you fucking serious? You think I’m stealing from her?
” With outrage written all over his face, he threw the printouts in mine. “You are full of shit.”
I kept my mouth shut, waiting for the excuses and lies I knew were coming because I was done believing anything this arsehole said.
When Austin stepped forward, Mads blocked him from reaching me. “That’ll do, sonny.”
I almost laughed.
Wright pulled Austin away, muttering, “Give me strength.”
Mads stepped back, his hand finding mine, and some of the tension bled from my body.
Wright directed his next words to Austin.
“No one’s accusing you of anything. But with Chloe missing, you’ll understand why we might be interested in what you have to say about this.
Not Nick. Forget about him. We’re interested.
The police. If you’d like Nick to leave the room while you explain, I’ll send him out. ”
Austin grunted, still glaring daggers at me as he began to speak.
“I’ve got nothing to hide. It’s as simple as this.
A few months back, Chloe asked me to take over her banking.
She’d made some purchases online that she couldn’t recall when they were delivered, and she was concerned.
It’s all part of the deterioration in her condition that we’ve been noticing lately.
At the same time, she agreed on a plan to move into our granny flat as soon as the townhouse was spruced up and able to be sold. ”
“That’s not what she told—”
“Her memory is getting worse by the week,” Austin talked over me. “Sometimes she’s not even sure where she is or what decade it is. She’s starting to make silly mistakes—” He paused. “—and some not so silly ones. Financially careless ones. Ones that could affect her security in the future.”
“Rubbish.” I dismissed the idea. “If we’re talking about proof, then I’ll want to see some regarding just how mentally incompetent you think she is.”
Austin glowered my way. “What is it about Chloe having Parkinson’s that you can’t get through your head? Is this you feeling guilty for not being around for your mother when she needed you? If she is your mother, that is?”
“Austin,” Belinda cautioned, putting a hand on his arm.
Austin’s shoulders dropped and he visibly calmed. “Chloe might bang on to you about not wanting to lose her independence, but the truth is that she can’t take care of herself anymore. Ask her doctor. She’s no longer safe to live on her own.”
I went to interrupt but Mads squeezed my arm.
“On her lucid days, she’ll even admit that,” Austin explained, sounding every bit the concerned and understanding relative.
“She’s actually very grateful for our offer so she doesn’t have to move into a home.
So grateful that she insisted on helping us out and sharing the cost of the move.
She asked me to set up automatic payments for my utilities as part of her contribution.
She also told me to up her credit card limits and minimise the payments so that we could make the necessary improvements to the townhouse and get the granny flat set up without needing to dip into our own savings or hers.
As soon as the townhouse is sold, we’ll clear the cards and settle things between us.
I haven’t used her accounts for anything other than what we agreed.
You can see that. It’s all here.” He held the accounts aloft.
“What about the payments on your car and the two cash withdrawals?” I countered, sounding a little desperate even to my own ears.
Austin let out a put-upon sigh. “You don’t give up, do you?
The car payments are another thank-you gift from Chloe for all the running around I’ve done for her this last year.
Unable to drive her own car anymore, we’ve taken Chloe to all her doctor’s appointments, shopping, social events, even her mahjong group.
And those withdrawals you’re talking about?
Some of the money was for Chloe herself, so she’d have cash when she needed it.
The rest went mostly to tradesmen for the alterations needed on the flat. A lot of them like to deal in cash.”
Belinda added, eyes shimmering, “We never expected or wanted anything for helping Chloe out, but she insisted. She’s stubborn as hell and always wants to pull her own weight.
She hates the idea of accepting charity when Brendon left her plenty to use as she sees fit. ” She shrugged. “What can you do?”
The room fell silent and Mads swore quietly at my back. “Jesus.”
Wright considered Austin for a moment, then asked, “Why didn’t she give you power of attorney then?”
Austin didn’t hesitate. “We were heading towards that. This was just simpler to start with. And cheaper. No lawyer fees, right? When the house gets sold, we’ll do everything in one go.” He shot me a glare. “Of course, I never imagined being accused of stealing from her in the interim.”
Wright turned to me. “Well? Do you have an opinion?”
Austin narrowed his eyes. “Why are you asking him?”
“Because Nick is a forensic accountant,” Wright explained. “He worked for the police in the financial crimes unit for many years.”
I expected maybe shock or at least concern, but Austin’s face gave nothing away. Then again, if he’d looked through the scrapbook, he already knew.
Belinda, on the other hand, seemed oddly relieved by the revelation, even commenting to me, “If that’s true, then you must see that Austin was only trying to help.
He—we are trying to give Chloe as much time as possible out of a nursing home.
If she really is your mother, isn’t that what you’d do?
And wouldn’t she want to help you do it?
Relieve some of the financial burden if she could? ”
“I—” I paused, so fucking confused I didn’t know what to say.
Austin’s story was so damn believable, it could actually be true.
And Belinda was right. It was just the sort of thing my mother would do, or at least the mother I’d known a lifetime ago.
She’d always been generous to a fault but hated the idea of accepting any help herself.
Was I really imagining everything? Seeing things that weren’t there only because I wanted to.
“Nick?” Mads tugged at my elbow.
When I turned to face him, Mads held my gaze. “Let’s just find Chloe and go from there. She’s the key to everything, right? She has the answers and time’s ticking.”
Much as I wanted to pull Austin’s argument to bits, Mads was right.
I was already sounding like I was on some sort of grudge mission against the man, which wasn’t helping.
I steeled myself and turned back to Wright.
“If you’re done with us for the time being and still happy for us to help, I really want to get out there. Where do we start?”
Wright nodded. “The search is being coordinated from the riverside car park down the road. I’ll let them know you’re coming.” He switched his attention to Austin and Belinda. “I suggest at least one of you stays here in case we find her. She’s gonna need some familiar faces around her.”
“We’ll both stay for now.” Austin took Belinda’s hand.
“Belinda was supposed to work a shift this afternoon. They took her off the roster for today and tomorrow but I need to drive her to the hospital so she can negotiate a period of extended leave. She’s far too rattled to drive herself, and Chloe can’t be left alone, not after this. ”
Belinda nodded; her gaze locked on her partner’s face.
“Thank you.” She turned to Wright. “It shouldn’t take more than an hour, but we were thinking it might be helpful if we check some of Chloe’s favourite haunts around town on our way back.
The ones not covered by the search area. Just in case she got a ride somewhere.”
Wright thought Belinda’s idea was a good one. “Just keep your phones close. We’ll call if we get any news.” He turned his attention to me. “Can you try the new phone you bought her again, please?”
Austin huffed in disgust. “You bought a new phone as well? My. My. My. You really have been busy little bees.”
I ignored him and called Chloe’s cell. The room remained silent, but a light flashed on one of the bookshelves. Crossing to investigate, I found the new phone plugged in and fully charged. I disconnected it, entered the passcode, and handed it over to Wright.
Austin moved to Wright’s side as the detective scrolled the contents.
“Nothing.” Wright put the phone down on the coffee table. “Just your unanswered calls this morning. Doesn’t look like Chloe used it at all.”
Disappointment cut through me. “In that case, we’ll leave and join the search. Call us if you find anything at all.” When Wright nodded, I grabbed Mads’ hand and headed for the door.
Austin’s protest came over my shoulder as we left. “You can’t just let them—”
That was as much as I heard as we headed out the front door and began running for the rental car.