Chapter 2

A few days later, Sarah and Chloe were at Best Buy. Sarah needed a new tablet for her freelance design work. Her old one was dying.

"This one looks perfect," Sarah said, pointing to a sleek, high-end model. It was about $1,300. "With the new condo and everything, I need to be efficient."

Chloe nodded. "Go for it. You deserve it, and it' s a work expense."

Sarah felt a little thrill. It was the first significant purchase she' d make using Carol' s gift. She handed the debit card to the cashier.

The cashier swiped it. A small beep. He swiped it again.

"Hmm," the cashier said, frowning. "It' s saying insufficient funds."

Sarah' s smile faltered. "What? That can' t be right. There should be $28,000 in there."

"Maybe try it again?" Chloe suggested, leaning closer.

The cashier tried once more. "Sorry, ma'am. Declined."

A knot of confusion tightened in Sarah' s stomach. "There must be a mistake."

Chloe put a supportive hand on her arm. "Let's go to an ATM. We can check the balance there."

They left Best Buy, the tablet still on the counter. Sarah felt a prickle of embarrassment and a growing unease.

At the nearest ATM, Sarah inserted the card, her hand slightly trembling. She keyed in the PIN Carol had given her and selected "Balance Inquiry."

The screen flashed, then displayed the number: $800.00.

Sarah stared at it. Eight hundred dollars. Not twenty-eight thousand.

"What?" she whispered.

Chloe peered over her shoulder. "Eight hundred? Are you serious?"

"Twenty-seven thousand, two hundred dollars," Sarah said, her voice barely audible. "It' s missing."

The initial joy and security Carol' s gift had brought shattered, replaced by a cold, sharp shock. How could this happen?