Mule

Chapter Three: Familiar Shadows

Jared didn't come home for dinner, so Anabelle ate her half of the small casserole she'd baked after dropping off the kids. She sat at the table going over the bills with the calming glow of candlelight. She was big on energy saving, so she used candles whenever she could, forgoing lamps or ceiling lights. Jared hated it since he claimed he couldn't see when he got home. She reminded him if he came home when he said he was, it wouldn't be a problem. That hadn't gone well.

She finished writing the check for the mortgage then set it in the "paid" pile then checked the balance in Jared's account. After she'd moved in, she quickly learned he was bad about remembering to pay his bills on time since he traveled so much. He'd given her access to his account though they both had their own. She would pay the bills and use his card for household needs. He insisted she use her income for herself.

Ana yawned, stretching a bit, then got to the right page. When she saw the balance, something seemed off. She hadn't checked in a few days, but there was definitely fifteen hundred dollars unaccounted for. She'd already factored in his travel costs that weren't covered by his job, and he wasn't a big spender. In fact, he was a penny pincher.

Her phone rang, startling her since she'd been sitting in the quiet other than her music playing on her Bluetooth speaker. She shut her laptop and checked her phone. It was her brother, Connor.

"Hi, Conman!" she said.

"What's up, slut?" he teased.

"You kiss your wife with that mouth, dumbass?"

"Oh, come on! Don't be like that. What's going on?"

She pushed the papers around on the table. "Nothing much, just waiting for Jared to get home."

Connor groaned. "What bimbo is he banging this time?"

"He's not cheating! He's just very busy."

"Whatever you say. So, you looking forward to California? You better come visit me while you're down here or I'm going to crash your vacation. You know how embarrassing I can be."

"Don't remind me."

Her mind wandered back to the missing money, and she wondered if she should bring it up. Connor was always the one she confided in about Jared and their relationship since he was the most honest, no matter how hard it was to hear the truth. Connor didn't like Jared, which was why she was glad her brother lived a thousand miles away.

"Hey, Ugly, I need advice." She shifted so she had one foot on her seat. "What would you do if a thousand dollars was missing from your account?"

"Duh, call the bank and tell them your card's been compromised."

"No, I don't think that's it." She hesitated then said. "It's Jared's account."

"Daaaaaayum. Boy toy lets you into his bank account? And you still dress the way you do."

"Shut up, I'm being serious. Do you think I should ask him about it?"

"Hmm . . . Unless he got you a little something something."

"Like . . .?"

"An engagement ring?" She groaned. "Come on, it's not that big of a stretch! You guys have been together forever, and you live together. It's about time he puts a ring on it. You're pushing forty."

"I'm only thirty-four."

"Exactly, and I'm thirty-two, so—"

"We're twins, you dumbass. We're the same age." She paused then said. "I don't think that's it. He knows I check the accounts. If he wanted to be sneaky, he would use a credit card."