Now she could not meet my eyes.<\/p>\n
Arthur placed several documents on the coffee table. \u201cMrs. Sterling, these are the wire confirmations from March 14 of last year. Three transfers. Fifty thousand, seventy-five thousand, and fifty-five thousand dollars.\u201d<\/p>\n
Diana opened her laptop. \u201cAll sent from Eleanor Sterling\u2019s personal account to an account at Mountain Federal Credit Union.\u201d<\/p>\n
Grandma\u2019s voice was quiet. \u201cIn whose name?\u201d<\/p>\n
Diana looked up. \u201cAudrey Vance Relief Fund LLC.\u201d<\/p>\n
I blinked. \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
Arthur turned one page around so I could see it. \u201cAn LLC registered in Colorado. Formed two days before the first transfer.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at the printed record. My name was there, but I had never seen it before.<\/p>\n
The registered agent: Victoria Sterling.<\/p>\n
My aunt swallowed hard.<\/p>\n
Grandma\u2019s face tightened. \u201cYou created a company using my granddaughter\u2019s name?\u201d<\/p>\n
Victoria stood too quickly. \u201cI created an emergency fund because Audrey was overwhelmed. She had just lost Marcus. She wasn\u2019t thinking clearly. I was trying to help manage things.\u201d<\/p>\n
I laughed once, but there was no humor in it.<\/p>\n
\u201cManage things?\u201d I said. \u201cI was begging my landlord for one more week. Maya had a fever and I couldn\u2019t afford urgent care until my paycheck cleared. You told me Grandma was disappointed in me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Grandma turned sharply toward Victoria.<\/p>\n
Victoria\u2019s lips parted.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou told her what?\u201d Grandma asked.<\/p>\n
Julian stepped forward. \u201cEleanor, emotions are high. Maybe we should discuss this after dinner.\u201d<\/p>\n
Grandma\u2019s eyes moved to him. \u201cJulian, this is far more important than dinner. We are going to understand exactly what happened tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n
He stopped.<\/p>\n
Diana continued, \u201cThe LLC account was opened with Victoria Sterling as manager. Over the following six months, records show funds moving into several personal accounts, with transactions connected to credit card payments, a vehicle purchase, home renovations, and private school tuition.\u201d<\/p>\n
My cousin Chloe gasped from the hallway.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom?\u201d she whispered.<\/p>\n
Victoria turned toward her daughter. \u201cChloe, go upstairs.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d Grandma said. \u201cShe can stay. Everyone can stay.\u201d<\/p>\n
I held Maya tighter as she stirred against my shoulder.<\/p>\n
My baby had slept in a thrift-store crib while my aunt\u2019s kitchen was remodeled with money Grandma believed was supporting us.<\/p>\n
Arthur looked at me gently. \u201cAudrey, did you authorize Victoria Sterling to receive funds on your behalf?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you sign any documents creating this LLC?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you receive any money from it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot one dollar.\u201d<\/p>\n
Diana nodded and typed quickly.<\/p>\n
Victoria\u2019s composure finally slipped. \u201cI deserved something,\u201d she snapped.<\/p>\n
The room went still.<\/p>\n
The word hung in the cold, silent room, heavy and grotesque.<\/p>\n