Patricia lifted her chin. “We needed help,” she said sharply. “Your husband has been under stress. He was trying to keep things afloat.”
“By lying?” I asked. “By opening credit cards in my name?”
Ethan’s voice cracked again. “I was going to fix it. I swear. Mom said it was temporary—”
“Mom said,” I repeated. I turned to Patricia. “So how much did you take?”
Patricia’s expression hardened. “Excuse me?”
“How much?” I said louder. “Because if the mortgage payments weren’t made, and I transferred the money… it went somewhere.”
Patricia’s laugh returned, but it sounded thin now. “You’re acting like I robbed a bank.”
Ms. Parker stepped forward, opening her folder. “Ms. Brooks, one of the accounts you reported shows multiple transfers to a payee listed as ‘P. W.’ and cash withdrawals matching the dates of the missing mortgage payments. Additionally, there’s a purchase history consistent with travel bookings.”
Patricia’s eyes flashed. “You can’t prove that’s me.”
Ms. Parker didn’t blink. “The payee name matches your full legal name, Patricia Walsh. The bank confirmed the recipient account belongs to you.”
Ethan looked as though the ground had shifted under him. “Mom…?”