Chapter 3: The Receipt That Changed Everything
David waited until Jasmine had gone upstairs before calling the supplier again.
He wanted to be certain he had heard correctly.
“Mark, I'm looking at an invoice for forty-eight uniform sets,” David said.
“The invoice says the order was paid in full using a bank transfer.””
“That's correct,” Mark replied.
“We received a transfer of $18,600.””
“And the buyer was Jessica Carter?””
“Yes, sir. She handled the order.””
David rubbed his forehead.
“Then explain why you just told me that the team received a discount.””
There was a pause.
“Because they did,” Mark answered.
“The coach said the team was working with a limited budget. Mrs. Carter told us she wanted to sponsor the players, so we reduced the package price.””
“How much was the discount?””
“Forty percent off the original quote.””
David stared at the paper.
Forty percent.
He looked at the invoice again, doing the arithmetic in his head.
The numbers didn't match.
“Mark, I need you to send me the original quotation, the final invoice, and the amount actually paid to your company.””
“Of course. Is there a problem?””
“I'm trying to understand why the paperwork doesn't match the transaction.””
Mark hesitated.
Then he said, “Mr. Carter, there may be another detail you should know.””
David gripped the phone.
“What detail?””
“Mrs. Carter told us that a portion of the payment was intended as a sponsorship donation. We assumed you were aware of the arrangement because she said the family was supporting the team.””
David went completely still.
“How much?””
“Five thousand dollars.””
For several seconds, the only sound in the kitchen was the hum of the refrigerator.
Five thousand dollars.
That amount alone could have covered Jasmine's books, supplies, and several months of living expenses.
“Did your company receive the full eighteen thousand six hundred dollars?”” David asked.
“No, sir. We received the amount on the final invoice. The sponsorship donation was supposed to go through the team's fundraising account.””
“Supposed to?””
“Yes. Mrs. Carter asked whether we could hold the donation until the team finalized its equipment needs. She said she'd arrange the transfer afterward.””
David looked at the invoice again.
“Did you ever receive it?””
“No, sir.””
David thanked him and ended the call.
He remained at the kitchen island, staring at the paperwork.
Jessica had claimed she spent every dollar on uniforms.
But the supplier had received considerably less than the full scholarship amount.
Some of the money was missing.
And if the supplier was telling the truth, Jessica had known exactly where it was supposed to go.
David heard footsteps on the stairs.
Jasmine appeared, carrying her laptop.
“Dad? Are you okay?””
He looked up.
“Come sit down, sweetheart.””
She set the laptop beside him.
“What did the supplier say?””
David hesitated. He didn't want to frighten her unnecessarily, but she deserved the truth.
“The uniforms cost less than Jessica paid. The supplier says five thousand dollars was supposed to go toward a team sponsorship.””
Jasmine frowned.
“So the rest of the money wasn't spent on uniforms?””
“That's what we're trying to establish.””
She sank into the chair opposite him.
“Why would she do that?””
“I don't know yet.””
Jasmine looked toward the staircase.
“Maybe she thought nobody would check.””
David didn't answer.
Because that was exactly what he was beginning to suspect.
He opened the online banking portal and downloaded the account statements. The scholarship deposit had entered the account on Monday morning. By Tuesday afternoon, the balance had dropped to almost nothing.
Several transfers appeared on the screen.
One payment went to the sports supplier.
Another went to a company called Westbrook Athletic Fund.
A third was a transfer to an account David didn't recognize.
He clicked on the final transaction.
*$3,200 — Electronic transfer.*
The recipient's name appeared below it.
C. Bennett.
David frowned.
“Do you recognize that name?”” he asked.
Jasmine leaned closer to the screen.
“No. Who is it?””
“I'm not sure.””
He opened the transaction details.
The transfer had been authorized using Jessica's banking credentials.
David took a screenshot and saved the statement.
He then checked the other transactions. The figures were becoming clearer.
The sports supplier had received less than the total amount withdrawn. The athletic fund had received a smaller payment than expected. And the unexplained transfer had gone to an individual rather than a business.
David felt a cold knot tighten in his stomach.
“Dad?”” Jasmine asked.
He turned the laptop toward her.
“Do you know why Jessica would send $3,200 to someone named C. Bennett?””
Jasmine shook her head.
“No.””
Then she looked more closely at the date.
“Wait.””
David leaned forward.
“What?””
“That was the day Cameron came home with those new basketball shoes.””
“Are you sure?””
Jasmine nodded slowly.
“I remember because I was sitting at the kitchen table working on my scholarship essay when he showed them to us. He said Mom had surprised him.””
David stared at the transaction.
“Did he say where she bought them?””
“He said she ordered them online. He was really excited because they were the same shoes his favorite player wore.””
David made a note of the detail.
He wasn't going to accuse Cameron of anything without evidence. The boy was seventeen, and he might know nothing about the money.
But the transfer deserved an explanation.
“Sweetheart, I want you to stay out of any arguments with Jessica for now,” he said.
“I'll handle the financial side.””
Jasmine nodded.
Then, after a moment, she asked, “Do you think she did this because she doesn't love me?””
The question cut through him.
David closed the laptop.
“Why would you ask that?””
Jasmine picked at a loose thread on her sleeve.
“Because this isn't the first time.””
He went still.
“What do you mean?””
She swallowed.
“It's always Cameron. When he needs something, it becomes an emergency. When I need something, she says I should be independent.””
David leaned forward.
“Give me an example.””
Jasmine looked down at her hands.
“Last year, I needed a new laptop for school. Mine kept shutting down in the middle of assignments. You were traveling for work, so I asked Jessica whether I could use some of the money I'd saved.””
“What did she say?””
“She told me I was old enough to solve my own problems.””
David's jaw tightened.
“What happened?””
“I bought a refurbished one with my savings. Two weeks later, Cameron wanted a gaming computer, and she helped him get one.””
David closed his eyes briefly.
He remembered that period. Jessica had told him Jasmine preferred to save money rather than accept help. He had believed her.
“What else?”” he asked gently.
Jasmine hesitated.
“Nothing important.””
“Jasmine.””
She looked up.
“Your feelings are important. Tell me.””
Her eyes glistened.
“Sometimes she makes me feel like I'm a guest in my own home.””
David reached across the table and took her hand.
“You are not a guest. This is your home.””
“But she acts like Cameron belongs here more than I do.””
David felt a wave of shame.
He had thought that providing for both children was enough. He had assumed that because there were no obvious arguments in front of him, everyone was getting along.
He hadn't seen what happened when he was at work.
He hadn't heard the small comments or witnessed the quiet exclusions.
And he had never imagined Jessica would cross a line this serious.
“I'm sorry,” he said.
Jasmine blinked.
“For what?””
“For not noticing sooner.””
She squeezed his hand.
“You didn't know.””
“I should have asked more questions.””
Before she could respond, David's phone began to vibrate on the table.
Jessica's name appeared on the screen.
He answered.
“What?””
Her voice was sharp and breathless.
“David, I need you to stop what you're doing.””
“Stop what?””
“Calling the supplier. Looking through the bank statements. Questioning people about the team.””
David looked at Jasmine.
“How do you know I've been doing that?””
Silence.
Then Jessica said, “Because the coach called me. Apparently, you've been making everyone uncomfortable.””
“I'm asking questions about money you took from Jasmine.””
“I already explained everything!””
“No, you haven't.””
“David, listen to me. Cameron has a major tournament coming up. If this becomes a scandal, it could ruin his chances of getting recruited.””
David's expression hardened.
“So now you're worried about a scandal?””
“I'm worried about my son!””
“And I am worried about my daughter, whose college education you just put at risk.””
Jessica lowered her voice.
“Please. We can fix this privately.””
“Then tell me where the missing money went.””
There was a long silence.
“It's not missing,” she finally said.
“Then where is it?””
“David, I can't explain everything over the phone.””
“Come home and explain it in person.””
“I have to pick up Cameron.””
“Bring him home, too.””
“Why?””
“Because I'm not making another decision until I understand every transaction.””
Jessica's breathing became audible.
Then she said something that made David sit straighter.
“You need to understand that Cameron had nothing to do with this.””
“I haven't accused him of anything.””
“You're going to make him pay for my mistake.””
“Your mistake?””
“Yes, David. Mine. Mine alone.””
“Then why are you afraid of me asking him questions?””
Jessica said nothing.
David looked at the unexplained transfer on the laptop.
“Who is C. Bennett?””
The silence on the other end of the line was immediate and absolute.
When Jessica finally spoke, her voice had changed.
“Where did you get that name?””
David felt his pulse quicken.
“From the bank statement. Who is it?””
“Don't call that person.””
“Jessica—”
“I mean it, David!””
He pulled the phone away from his ear for a moment, stunned by the force of her reaction.
Then he brought it back.
“Why shouldn't I?””
Jessica's voice cracked.
“Because if you contact C. Bennett, you'll destroy everything.””
The call ended.
David stared at his phone.
Across the table, Jasmine had gone pale.
“Dad,” she whispered, “what does she mean by that?””
David looked at the transfer details again.
For the first time, he wondered whether the basketball uniforms had been a convenient excuse for something much more deliberate.
He saved the statement, picked up his phone, and called his bank's fraud department.
Then another notification appeared on his screen.
It was a message from Cameron.
*Dad, Mom says you're angry about the uniforms. There's something you need to know before she gets home.*
May you like
A second message arrived before David could respond.
*The money wasn't all for basketball. And if you want to know where the rest went, you need to check Mom's email.*
