“She askedyou?” He shook his head. “I’m calling bullshit.” He spun to Wright. “I told you they were up to something. This is what they wanted all along.” He stabbed a finger my way. “He wants control of Chloe’s finances. You have to stop them.”
Wright considered Austin with an inscrutable expression in place. “My partner has already contacted the bank and spoken to the teller concerned.”
News to me.
“The man was quite comfortable with what transpired yesterday. No forms were signed, no money withdrawn, and Nick was given no access to Chloe’s accounts... unlike you, Mister Pattinson. So if you would kindly take a look at the printouts and then comment as you see fit.”
Austin glared at the detective for a long moment, then grunted something unintelligible and began flicking through the accounts, Belinda looking over his shoulder. When he was done, Austin gave a huff of disgust and threw a vicious look my way. “Are you fucking serious? You think I’m stealing from her?” With outrage written all over his face, he threw the printouts in mine. “You are full of shit.”
I kept my mouth shut, waiting for the excuses and lies I knew were coming because I was done believing anything this arsehole said.
When Austin stepped forward, Mads blocked him from reaching me. “That’ll do, sonny.”
I almost laughed.
Wright pulled Austin away, muttering, “Give me strength.”
Mads stepped back, his hand finding mine, and some of the tension bled from my body.
Wright directed his next words to Austin. “No one’s accusing you of anything. But with Chloe missing, you’ll understand why we might be interested in what you have to say about this. Not Nick. Forget about him.We’reinterested. The police. If you’d like Nick to leave the room while you explain, I’ll send him out.”
Austin grunted, still glaring daggers at me as he began to speak. “I’ve got nothing to hide. It’s as simple as this. A few months back, Chloe asked me to take over her banking. She’dmade some purchases online that she couldn’t recall when they were delivered, and she was concerned. It’s all part of the deterioration in her condition that we’ve been noticing lately. At the same time, she agreed on a plan to move into our granny flat as soon as the townhouse was spruced up and able to be sold.”
“That’s not what she told?—”
“Her memory is getting worse by the week,” Austin talked over me. “Sometimes she’s not even sure where she is or what decade it is. She’s starting to make silly mistakes—” He paused. “—and some not so silly ones. Financially careless ones. Ones that could affect her security in the future.”
“Rubbish.” I dismissed the idea. “If we’re talking about proof, then I’ll want to see some regarding just how mentally incompetent you think she is.”
Austin glowered my way. “What is it about Chloe having Parkinson’s that you can’t get through your head? Is this you feeling guilty for not being around for your mother when she needed you? If she is your mother, that is?”
“Austin,” Belinda cautioned, putting a hand on his arm.
Austin’s shoulders dropped and he visibly calmed. “Chloe might bang on to you about not wanting to lose her independence, but the truth is that she can’t take care of herself anymore. Ask her doctor. She’s no longer safe to live on her own.”
I went to interrupt but Mads squeezed my arm.
“On her lucid days, she’ll even admit that,” Austin explained, sounding every bit the concerned and understanding relative. “She’s actually very grateful for our offer so she doesn’t have to move into a home. So grateful that she insisted on helping us out and sharing the cost of the move. She asked me to set up automatic payments for my utilities as part of her contribution. She also told me to up her credit card limits and minimise the payments so that we could make the necessary improvements tothe townhouseandget the granny flat set up without needing to dip into our own savings or hers. As soon as the townhouse is sold, we’ll clear the cards and settle things between us. I haven’t used her accounts for anything other than what we agreed. You can see that. It’s all here.” He held the accounts aloft.
“What about the payments onyourcar and the two cash withdrawals?” I countered, sounding a little desperate even to my own ears.
Austin let out a put-upon sigh. “You don’t give up, do you? The car payments are another thank-you gift from Chloe for all the running around I’ve done for her this last year. Unable to drive her own car anymore, we’ve taken Chloe to all her doctor’s appointments, shopping, social events, even her mahjong group. And those withdrawals you’re talking about? Some of the money was for Chloe herself, so she’d have cash when she needed it. The rest went mostly to tradesmen for the alterations needed on the flat. A lot of them like to deal in cash.”
Belinda added, eyes shimmering, “We never expected or wanted anything for helping Chloe out, but she insisted. She’s stubborn as hell and always wants to pull her own weight. She hates the idea of accepting charity when Brendon left her plenty to use as she sees fit.” She shrugged. “What can you do?”
The room fell silent and Mads swore quietly at my back. “Jesus.”
Wright considered Austin for a moment, then asked, “Why didn’t she give you power of attorney then?”
Austin didn’t hesitate. “We were heading towards that. This was just simpler to start with. And cheaper. No lawyer fees, right? When the house gets sold, we’ll do everything in one go.” He shot me a glare. “Of course, I never imagined being accused of stealing from her in the interim.”
Wright turned to me. “Well? Do you have an opinion?”
Austin narrowed his eyes. “Why are you asking him?”
“Because Nick is a forensic accountant,” Wright explained. “He worked for the police in the financial crimes unit for many years.”
I expected maybe shock or at least concern, but Austin’s face gave nothing away. Then again, if he’d looked through the scrapbook, he already knew.
