“We will be opening a new account in my daughter in law’s name,” Diane said smoothly. “Her name is Grace Whitaker. All the funds will be deposited there as part of a family strategy.”
The phrase sounded strange in my ears, yet I told myself wealthy families often had complicated financial plans that ordinary people never understood. Caroline’s eyes moved between Diane and me before settling briefly on the cashier’s check, and the subtle tightening of her jaw suggested that something about the situation bothered her.
Halfway through the paperwork Diane stood up and laughed lightly while reaching for her purse strap. “Too much coffee this morning,” she joked before heading toward the restroom and leaving her purse and that enormous check on the desk beside Caroline.
That was when Caroline acted. She lowered her voice slightly and slid a folded deposit slip across the counter as if she were simply handing me another routine document.
“You dropped this,” she said loudly enough for nearby customers to hear.
I opened the slip under the desk expecting a missing signature line or another form to complete, but instead I saw one word written in quick block letters that made my stomach drop.
RUN.