Chapter 4 - The Photograph Tara Wasn’t Supposed to KeepThe office door remained unlocked.
The cabinet did not.
Kaylee and Mason spent the morning sorting donation envelopes under the supervision of a small ceiling camera Gerald had pointed out before leaving.
“Transparency,” he had called it.
Kaylee understood the real word.
Surveillance.
She behaved.
For two hours.
She counted bills.
Wrote totals.
Stacked receipts.
Mason sealed envelopes.
At noon, Gerald left the house for what he called a legal appointment.
The hallway chime was still active.
The office camera remained on.
Kaylee did not touch the cabinet.
Instead she studied everything else.
The desk drawers contained stationery.
Pens.
Tax forms.
Photographs.
One drawer stuck halfway.
Kaylee pulled harder.
A thin envelope slipped from behind it and fell to the floor.
Mason looked toward the camera.
“Kaylee.”
“I know.”
She picked it up naturally as if cleaning.
No name appeared on the front.
Inside was a photograph.
Kaylee’s stomach tightened.
Tara stood beside Gerald.
She looked younger.
Maybe twenty-eight.
Gerald wore a blue Bright Tomorrow polo shirt.
Between them were folding tables covered in donation containers.
Behind them stood a banner.
BRIGHT TOMORROW COMMUNITY FUND
HELPING CHILDREN IN NEED
Kaylee nearly laughed at the cruelty of it.
Then she saw the writing on the back.
Tara’s handwriting.
Dad — $3,840
Me — $960
Cash event, May 17
Eighty percent.
Twenty percent.
Kaylee turned the photograph again.
“Mason.”
He came closer.
“What?”
She showed him the numbers.
“Do you know what that means?”
He shook his head.
Kaylee did.
Tara had not merely volunteered for Gerald.
They had split the money.
She searched the envelope again.
A second photograph.
Gerald and Tara at another event.
A third.
Boxes of coupon books.
The same ones Kaylee and Mason had been selling.
Then a folded note.
Gerald’s handwriting.
Tara — Your shortage is $1,260. Use neighborhood distribution if necessary. Do not deposit cash. — G
Kaylee’s heartbeat pounded in her ears.
Neighborhood distribution.
Children walking door to door.
Cash not deposited.
This was not simply Tara trying to repay a personal debt.
Gerald had instructed her how to collect it.
Mason whispered, “He lied.”
Kaylee nodded.
“Both of them did.”
Footsteps sounded downstairs.
Too early.
Gerald.
Kaylee shoved the papers beneath her servant dress.
“Sit down.”
Mason rushed to his chair.
Kaylee pushed the drawer closed and returned to the envelopes.
Gerald entered thirty seconds later.
He looked at the desk.
Then Kaylee.
“You stopped working.”
“I went to the bathroom.”
“The hallway sensor didn’t register you leaving.”
Kaylee’s blood went cold.
“I stood up because my leg hurt.”
Gerald watched her.
He glanced at the crooked drawer.
Kaylee realized too late.
It was not fully closed.
Gerald walked toward it.
Opened it.
His eyes moved inside.
Then to Kaylee.
“Did you touch this?”
“No.”
“Kaylee.”
“No.”
He closed the drawer slowly.
“Stand up.”
Mason grabbed her sleeve.
Kaylee stood.
Gerald looked at the dress.
“Empty your pockets.”
“There aren’t any.”
“Then lift the apron.”
Kaylee froze.
The papers were tucked inside the waistband.
Gerald stepped toward her.
Mason suddenly swept his arm across the desk.
A jar of coins crashed to the floor.
Metal scattered everywhere.
Gerald spun.
“What did you do?”
Mason stared at the floor.
“I’m sorry!”
Kaylee moved.
While Gerald crouched to catch rolling coins, she slipped the photograph and note into the back of the desk’s bottom drawer.
Not hidden well.
But away from her body.
Gerald looked up.
“Don’t move.”
Kaylee froze.
He stood and checked the dress.
Nothing.
His suspicion remained.
But he had no proof.
Mason had given her three seconds.
Three seconds was enough.
Gerald collected the coins angrily.
“You two will not create chaos in this house.”
Mason whispered, “Sorry.”
Gerald stared at him.
Kaylee moved between them.
The motion was automatic.
Just like Tara’s living room.
Gerald noticed.
Something strange crossed his face.
Almost amusement.
“You really cannot help yourself, can you?”
“What?”
“Protecting him.”
Kaylee glared.
“He’s seven.”
“That instinct makes you predictable.”
Kaylee felt cold.
Gerald walked to the cabinet.
He checked the lock.
Then checked his pocket for the brass key.
Satisfied.
“You’ll be attending the custody evaluation tomorrow.”
“What’s that?”
“A social worker speaks to you.”
Kaylee’s hope surged.
“Alone?”
Gerald’s smile appeared.
“For part of it.”
Mason looked at Kaylee.
Gerald continued.
“You will tell the truth.”
Kaylee almost laughed.
“Which truth?”
“That Tara forced you to collect money. Tara hurt you. Tara neglected you. And I removed you from danger.”
“All of that happened.”
“Yes.”
Kaylee stared at him.
“But it’s not all that happened.”
Gerald’s smile vanished.
“You have no idea what happened.”
“I know you gave Mom the coupon books.”
Silence.
Mason squeezed her hand.
Gerald’s face became completely still.
Kaylee continued before fear stopped her.
“I know you told her to use neighborhoods.”
Gerald stared at the desk drawer.
Then at Kaylee.
“How?”
She said nothing.
Gerald opened drawers one by one.
First.
Second.
Third.
Then the bottom.
He found the envelope.
Mason started crying.
Gerald unfolded the note.
His face darkened.
Kaylee expected shouting.
Instead he laughed softly.
“That woman.”
“Mom kept it?”
Gerald looked at the handwriting on the photograph.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Insurance.”
Kaylee frowned.
Gerald realized again that he had revealed something.
“Against you?”
He put the papers in his pocket.
“Enough.”
“Mom was collecting proof.”
“Tara collects leverage. There’s a difference.”
“Because she was scared of you.”
Gerald stepped closer.
“Tara is scared of consequences.”
“Are you?”
His eyes sharpened.
Before he could answer, the front doorbell rang.
Gerald looked toward the hallway.
A second ring.
Then his phone buzzed.
He checked it.
For the first time, Kaylee saw genuine nervousness.
“Who is it?” she asked.
Gerald ignored her.
He locked the office.
“Both of you upstairs.”
“Why?”
“Now.”
He pushed them toward the hall without striking them.
At the staircase, Kaylee looked through the front window.
A woman in a dark green coat stood outside holding a leather portfolio.
Gerald opened the door and forced a warm smile.
“Ms. Pierce.”
The woman did not smile back.
“Gerald.”
She held up a document.
“I’m here regarding Kaylee and Mason’s trust.”
Kaylee stopped breathing.
Trust?
Mason whispered, “What’s that?”
Kaylee did not know.
But Gerald’s face told her something important.
May you like
It was another thing he did not want them to understand.
And the woman at the door had arrived without warning.
Related Stories
