Nick was heading toward the table, hearing Evelyn squealing with excitement about something. Nick fought the urge to roll his eyes, because he honestly believed this would help. When he thought about it, Evelyn was right. Alejandra shrunk at the very sight of him, and it wasn’t him who could help. But as they were starting to learn, they had a team for a reason, and having his materialistic sister and drama best friend on the case, he felt a bit better.

  Nick sat down at the table, opening Evelyn’s laptop. He brought up a new tab, figuring that if he was taking Alejandra on a date, he’d need to pay Derek back for the winter ball tickets, then whatever dinner they were planning on. He really needed to focus. He was going on a date with Alejandra. While Derek and Evelyn worked their magic, he needed to do his part. He’d have to ask Derek tomorrow about what he owed him for the date.

  The first of the month was on a Friday, so he should have gotten paid. Nick pulled up his bank account to check the money got in there. He logged in his information and waited for the screen to load.

  He stared at the number, confused.

  $743.85

  Nick blinked, scrolling down to make sure it wasn’t just… Mr. Morgan paying him with a ridiculously nice bonus for the two weeks. He should have more. A lot more. Over seventeen thousand dollars. He never spent it, because he didn’t go anywhere. He stayed home and worked. He had a nice chunk of money saved for his future. Where was it?

  Nick started to panic. That was a lot of money to go missing. That was… his future.

  Nick’s fingers shook as he clicked on the transaction history. He didn’t have to scroll down far. Someone had taken over sixteen thousand dollars out of his bank account.

  Nick grabbed the laptop in a panic. He ran up the stairs to find his parents watching a movie.

  “Mom, dad. I… I think someone’s stolen my identity. My money. My money is gone,” Nick said, doing his best to keep his words steady and even.

  “No one’s stolen your money,” Walt said, watching the movie.

  “Yes, they have. It’s gone. My money is gone,” Nick said, forcing calm into his voice. That was his future. He needed that money to leave. He was quite sure the downpayment on the apartment would be a month’s rent right up front. He wouldn’t even be able to afford a downpayment, let alone rent, even in the cheapest apartments at Mr. Morgan’s brother’s place.

  “We’ve got to get it back. Can you call the bank tomorrow and figure out if they can trace it?” Nick asked.

  “I’m sure they could, but there’s no point in calling the police. I already gave the approval for the money to be taken out of your account.”

  Nick took a breath to keep pressing this issue when Walt’s words struck his brain. He had the laptop open, showing where the money was taken from, but Walt’s cool, collective voice brought a chill to his spine. Nick glanced up at his father, who was watching the movie, holding his mom’s hand. Walt glanced over at him as though expecting a blow up, even though he didn’t look in the mood.

  Nick froze, staring at his dad, trying to understand. Afraid to understand. “You… took it?”

  Walt sighed like this was some huge burden, his face toward the TV. He didn’t answer. Anger trickled into Nick’s system. “You stole my money?”

  “I didn’t steal it,” Walt said, eyes hardening as he kept watching the movie.

  “Why? Why did you steal it?” Nick said.

  “Think, Nick. Think really hard,” Walt said.

  Nick tried. The condescension was hard to pick through, especially because Nick didn’t think Walt had a claim to that money. Not at all.

  Nick closed the lid to the laptop, the glare returning. “Give me back my money.”

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  Walt sighed again, then grabbed the remote and turned off the TV. “I suppose you did hit your head during the crash. I can’t expect you to be back where you were yet.” He stood up, facing Nick. Nick stood his ground, reminded that he had a few inches on his dad and refused to be intimidated. “Welcome to adulthood, Nick. When you get in a crash, it costs money. Getting a new car, for one. Medical expenses for another. You should be happy your mom and I have such great insurance to cover most of the cost, but not all.” Walt shrugged. “Another reality of growing up. When you make shitty decisions, you get stuck in a shitty situation, and you have to pay for it with your hard-earned cash.”

  Nick’s hands trembled. Nausea threatened to bring his supper right back up. Walt continued to stare at him, cooly as ever. “And you waited until after it was all said and done to get my permission?”

  “No, Nick,” Walt said. “I didn’t have to get your permission at all. Haven’t you been listening to me? That’s just the way life works. Taxes must have taught you that.”

  Nick was breathing unsteadily. That was his future. His entire future. Gone. And Walt was trying to convince him it was okay. “The… insurance check. You were still waiting on it for the car,” Nick said, feeling breathless. “It’s going back in my account, right?”

  “It was a nice car you crashed, Nick. I took out a loan on it. I’ll have to pay back the loan before giving you the rest, if there’s anything left. It’s the headache I’ve been suffering with the car insurance people.”

  Nick glared at him. His chest was heaving, even as he tried to calm it. “You… you can’t.”

  “You’re right. I didn’t. Your sister has a particular high-end life-style choice in cars. Even used cars,” Walt said.

  “And you didn’t tell her that you were using my money to pay for it?” Nick seethed.

  “The genes that created you also created her. You’ll have to get used to it if you ever have a daughter,” Walt said.

  “You can’t do this,” Nick said, tears coming to his eyes. “You cannot do this.”

  Walt stared right back at him, his gaze noticing the tears before staring right at Nick. “Yes, I can.”

  Nick glared at his father, feeling his hope crumble. He’d have to double check. Talk to the bank personally. Do some research. But he was quite sure his dad was right. When Nick set up the account, he was a minor. He had Walt there with him to make sure the paperwork was right. Nick was still a minor. Walt no doubt checked and double checked what he could do.

  Nick wondered why Walt hadn’t given him any punishment for the crash. A part of him hoped that it was because Walt felt concerned about Nick’s life and decided to not threaten to take away CCNC or his job. Turns out Nick was wrong to lower his guard.

  Nick spun around and ran down the stairs. He couldn’t stay around Walt. Not anymore. He couldn’t trust himself to not strangle his father, demanding the money back.

  He left the laptop on the counter as he went into his room. His shoulders were stiff, and he was still aware in the back of his mind that his door was missing. Walt could come in at any time. He couldn’t cry. He wouldn’t. It was money. It was just money.

  It was his future. Now, more than ever, Nick could not do anything that would threaten his job. He had to earn as much money as he could to survive. Once he turned eighteen, he’d pull all his funds out of the bank and open a new one.

  The measly seven hundred dollars were still in danger of Walt taking them. Walt already proved he could do this once. Perhaps Walt followed a logic that he wouldn’t drain it unless necessary, but he’d already taken enough. If he took anymore…

  No. He wasn’t going to let Walt threaten his future like that. He needed to take action now, and salvage what he could. No matter how justified Walt felt in taking the money, Nick would not let him touch another cent of what he’d earned. He had about four and a half months left until he turned eighteen. If he worked hard, he could still earn enough for the downpayment and a month of rent to cushion himself.

  There was groceries, though. He’d have to survive on ramen for a while. It was what Tyler did. Tyler was fine.

  Tyler had a home to go to, with home cooked meals every weekend.

  Nick dug his palm into his forehead, his brows furrowing. He could do this. He needed to do this.

  “Nick?” Evelyn asked at the doorway.

  “Yeah?” Nick winced at how badly his voice trembled.

  She poked her head in, eyes wide. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah.”

  The look on her face told him enough. “Nick?”

  Nick shook his head, keeping his back to her. He couldn’t tell her. She’d been tricked, just like him, and he still felt a brotherly protectiveness about her. If she knew where the money came for her car, she’d attack Walt again. There was no doubt about it. He would, eventually, have to tell her, but he’d have to soften the blow. Somehow.

  “It’s… dad. Dad’s getting me down again. I’ll be okay.”

  Evelyn hesitated, and Nick kept his back to her. “Don’t… hide from me again. Okay?”

  “I won’t. I promise. I just… need to be alone,” Nick said.

  “Okay. Um… can I have my laptop back?” Evelyn said.

  Nick nodded, grabbing the laptop and closing out of his bank information. It had already logged him out anyway, but he still made sure she couldn’t stumble on this like he did. He tried to smile as he handed it to her. Evelyn hugged him tightly.

  “I’m… excited for family therapy tomorrow,” she said.

  Nick grunted, closing his eyes. He completely forgot about their appointment tomorrow. This was going to suck. He couldn’t tell Evelyn. Not yet. But hell, there was quite the bomb they needed to talk about as a family.

  Evelyn walked out of his room, and Nick leaned against the wall, hand in his hair. Sometimes it sucked to be Walt’s son.