The next morning, I went back to Riverside Motors.
I had barely slept.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the same three things: the forged signature, the $18,500 transfer, and Kelsey's face when Rachel mentioned Nathan's file.
Corbin was waiting when I arrived.
“You came back.”
“I need everything.”
He frowned.
“Everything?”
“Every amendment. Every authorization. Every email connected to my account.”
He nodded.
“I've prepared copies.”
He placed a folder on the desk.
I opened it.
The first page was the original lease.
My name.
My address.
Grady listed as the primary driver.
The second page was routine.
The third wasn't.
Additional driver authorization.
Nathan Ellis.
I stared at the date.
Eighteen months earlier.
“What happened on this date?”
Corbin looked at the screen.
“The request was processed electronically.”
“From where?”
He hesitated.
“That's what we couldn't determine at first.”
“Now?”
“We can.”
He pulled up the verification record.
“The request originated from a mobile device.”
“Whose?”
“Kelsey Whitlow's.”
I closed my eyes.
“Of course.”
“There’s more.”
He opened another screen.
“The verification email was sent to an address registered to Kelsey.”
“And the authorization?”
“Completed from the same device.”
I looked at him.
“Then why is Nathan's name on it?”
“We don't know.”
“Can he legally drive the vehicle?”
“Not anymore.”
“Good.”
Corbin scrolled.
“There was also a billing adjustment.”
“What kind?”
“The monthly payment was redirected through a third-party account.”
I frowned.
“Whose?”
He showed me.
Whitlow Family Solutions.
Kelsey's company.
I felt something cold settle inside me.
“For how long?”
“Twenty-seven months.”
I stared at the number.
“Twenty-seven months?”
“Yes.”
“How much?”
“Six hundred twelve dollars per month.”
I did the math in my head.
Almost sixteen thousand dollars.
Money I believed was going to the dealership.
Corbin shook his head.
“The dealership received your payments.”
“Then why is her company listed?”
“She may have been reimbursing herself.”
I looked at him.
“From what?”
“We can't tell.”
I sat back.
“Call my son.”
Corbin nodded.
He put the call on speaker.
The phone rang twice.
“Hello?”
“Mr. Whitlow, this is Corbin from Riverside Motors.”
“Oh. My mom finally called?”
I said nothing.
Corbin continued.
“We're reviewing the SUV lease.”
Grady's voice tightened.
“What's wrong?”
“The lease holder is your mother.”
“I know.”
“You told us you were taking over the purchase.”
“My wife handled that.”
“Your wife submitted paperwork indicating she had authorization.”
A pause.
“I thought she did.”
Corbin glanced at me.
“There is another issue.”
“What?”
“The amendment lists Dr. Nathan Ellis as an authorized driver.”
The silence that followed was long enough for me to hear the faint hum of the dealership lights.
Then Grady said, “I don't know him.”
I spoke.
“Grady.”
His voice changed immediately.
“Mom.”
“Why is Nathan Ellis on my lease?”
“I don't know.”
“You've said that twice.”
“Because it's true.”
“Then why did you sound frightened?”
“I wasn't frightened.”
“You were.”
Kelsey arrived before the call ended.
The glass doors opened hard enough to rattle.
She marched toward us.
“Where is she?”
Corbin looked at me.
I stood.
“Good morning.”
She ignored the greeting.
“You're humiliating us.”
“I’m reviewing my contract.”
“You’re taking the car away.”
“I’m deciding what happens to a vehicle in my name.”
“You promised Grady could have it.”
“I promised my son temporary help.”
Her face hardened.
“Three years isn't temporary.”
“Thirty-five months.”
She looked at Corbin.
“See? This is what she does.”
“What?”
“She keeps records so she can use them against us.”
I looked at her.
“Is that why you used my email?”
She went still.
“What?”
“Your email received the authorization request.”
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
Corbin opened the tablet.
“The verification address belongs to Kelsey Whitlow.”
Grady rushed through the doors seconds later.
His hair was wet.
He looked like he'd left the house in the middle of getting ready.
“Mom.”
I turned toward him.
“Who is Nathan Ellis?”
He looked at the tablet.
Then at Kelsey.
It was only a fraction of a second.
But I saw it.
So did Corbin.
Kelsey folded her arms.
“I don't know him.”
Grady swallowed.
“I don't know him either.”
Corbin showed them the electronic authorization.
The signature read K. Whitlow.
Kelsey pointed.
“That could be Karen.”
“No,” I said.
“My legal signature includes my middle initial.”
She stared at me.
“I didn't know that.”
“You've known me for three years.”
Her mouth tightened.
Corbin opened another record.
“The verification email went to Kelsey's account.”
Grady looked at his wife.
“Kelsey?”
She stepped back.
“It was just paperwork.”
“What paperwork?”
“The vehicle.”
“Why were you handling Mom's lease?”
“Because you asked me to.”
Grady looked at me.
“I didn't.”
Kelsey stared at him.
“You told me to take care of it.”
“I told you to ask Mom.”
“I thought you meant handle it.”
“You changed the account.”
“I was trying to help.”
Grady's voice rose.
“You put Nathan Ellis on it?”
Kelsey shook her head.
“I didn't.”
“Then who did?”
Nobody answered.
Corbin quietly stepped away.
The dealership had become too quiet.
Customers were watching.
A salesman across the showroom suddenly became fascinated by a stack of brochures.
I looked at Grady.
“You told me you needed the SUV.”
“Yes.”
“You told me Kelsey had taken care of the purchase.”
“Yes.”
“You told me the townhouse deposit had come from her parents.”
He froze.
“Mom…”
“Did it?”
He looked down.
“No.”
“How much did I pay?”
“Twenty-four thousand.”
Kelsey turned toward him.
“You never told me that.”
Grady looked at her.
“You knew.”
“I knew your mother helped.”
“You knew the amount.”
She said nothing.
I watched my son.
For the first time, he looked less angry than ashamed.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“I didn't want you to think I couldn't handle my life.”
“You couldn't.”
His eyes filled.
“I know.”
Kelsey stepped forward.
“You're making us look like criminals.”
I answered quietly.
“You forged my authorization.”
“I didn't steal anything.”
“You used my name.”
“I was protecting my family.”
“From what?”
She looked at Grady.
He looked away.
That answer told me enough.
Corbin interrupted.
“Mrs. Whitlow, we need your decision about the lease.”
Grady stepped closer.
“Mom, don't return it yet.”
“Why?”
“Please.”
“Why?”
He lowered his voice.
“Because if the car disappears, everything falls apart.”
“What does that mean?”
He looked toward Kelsey.
Then back at me.
“I don't know how much time we have.”
The words stayed with me.
“How much time for what?”
He didn't answer.
My phone rang.
St. Matthew Medical Center.
The same hospital printed on the parking tag I had seen hanging from the white sedan.
I answered.
“Karen Whitlow?”
“Yes.”
“My name is Melissa Grant. I'm with patient services.”
“What is this about?”
“Dr. Nathan Ellis.”
I looked through the dealership windows.
The white sedan was parked across the street.
“I'm listening.”
“There appears to be a problem with his emergency contact information.”
“I don't know Dr. Ellis.”
“That is what concerns us.”
I stepped outside.
The September air was cool.
“What vehicle did he list?”
She gave me the plate number.
My SUV.
I closed my eyes.
“Is he a patient?”
“Yes.”
“Is he there?”
“He was admitted yesterday.”
“Is he stable?”
“Yes.”
“Then why call me?”
“He specifically asked that we contact you if his condition changed.”
“Why would he name me?”
“He said you were the only person who might believe him.”
My breath caught.
“Believe him about what?”
“I can't discuss his medical situation.”
“I understand.”
“There is one other thing.”
“What?”
“He gave us your full name.”
I waited.
“He said, ‘Karen Whitlow doesn't know me yet. But she will.’”
The call ended.
I stood outside the dealership staring at my own reflection in the glass.
When I went back inside, Grady approached.
“What did they want?”
“Who is Nathan Ellis?”
“I told you.”
“No. You told me you didn't know him.”
“I don't.”
“Then why are you afraid?”
He didn't answer.
I looked at Kelsey.
“Was Nathan ever at your townhouse?”
Her face changed.
Grady noticed.
“What?”
Kelsey shook her head.
“No.”
“You reacted.”
“I didn't.”
“You did.”
Grady looked at her.
“Kelsey.”
She crossed her arms.
“I don't know that man.”
I asked, “Who was in the white sedan?”
Neither spoke.
“The one outside your townhouse.”
Kelsey looked at Grady.
Grady looked at the floor.
And I realized something.
The car was only mysterious to me.
They knew something about it.
“Grady,” I said.
He finally looked up.
“Who was in the house?”
His lips parted.
Nothing came out.
Kelsey whispered, “Nobody.”
“Then why has that hospital parking tag been sitting outside your house?”
Her expression hardened.
“You've been driving past our home?”
“I've been driving on public streets.”
“You were watching us.”
“No.”
“You said you weren't coming over.”
“I didn't.”
Grady stepped forward.
“Mom, I can explain.”
“Then explain.”
He rubbed both hands over his face.
“I borrowed money.”
“How much?”
“Twenty thousand.”
“From Nathan?”
He nodded.
My stomach tightened.
“Why?”
“Debt.”
“What kind?”
“Business.”
“What business?”
“Medical equipment resale.”
“Did it fail?”
“Yes.”
“How much did you lose?”
He stared at the floor.
“Eighty-seven thousand.”
Kelsey started crying.
I didn't.
“Eighty-seven thousand?”
“Yes.”
“Where did the money go?”
“I was trying to cover losses.”
“With my SUV?”
He nodded.
“I thought I could buy it and sell it.”
“And pay Nathan.”
“Yes.”
I looked at Kelsey.
“She knew?”
“She knew I owed money.”
“I didn't know about Nathan,” Kelsey said.
“But you knew about the debt.”
“Yes.”
My phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
A message appeared.
KAREN, DON'T RETURN THE SUV.
I showed them.
Grady went pale.
Kelsey whispered, “Delete it.”
“Why?”
She didn't answer.
Another message arrived.
I NEED YOU TO HEAR WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE YOU MAKE YOUR DECISION.
—NATHAN
I looked at Grady.
“Why is Nathan contacting me?”
He stepped closer.
“Mom, don't.”
“Why?”
“Because you don't know what you're getting into.”
“You borrowed money from him.”
“I know.”
“And now you're warning me about him?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
He looked at me with an expression I hadn't seen since he was a little boy.
Fear.
“Because Nathan isn't who I thought he was.”
Click here to continue reading: PART 4: At the Hospital, Nathan Ellis Showed Me a Record Bearing My Identity, and the Next Warning Sent Me Straight Toward My Own Attic
My Son Told Me to Stay Away From His House, So I Went to the Dealership and Discovered a Name I Had Never Authorized
Part 3 of 24
