The phone rang three times before a deep, gravelly voice answered.

“Vance Investigations,” the voice said.

“My name is Mark Collins,” I said.

“I need to hire you immediately.”

“I have a case of identity theft and bank fraud.”

“And the suspects are my family.”

The investigator paused for a moment.

“I can see you in an hour, Mr. Collins,” he said.

“Bring everything you have.”

“Every statement, every name, and every scrap of paper.”

“I will,” I said.

I hung up and began printing out the bank transfer details.

I printed the wire confirmation page showing the transfer to L&H Holdings LLC.

As the printer whirred to life, my phone on the desk buzzed.

A text message appeared on the screen from an unknown number.

I picked it up and read the words.

“We know where you live, Hannah.”
“Pay the balance by Friday or we take the next step.”

My hands grew cold as I stared at the screen.
The message was meant for my sister, but it had come to my personal burner number, a line I rarely gave out.
I realized then how deeply she had compromised my personal data.
She had likely listed my contact information as her own on her fraudulent loan applications.