Riley approached the counter of the bank nervously. She had no idea if the check she had was still good, or even if this bank would actually honor it. Eventually her place in line came up and she cautiously approached the counter.

“Um I need to deposit this check into this account,” Riley said nervously handing the now heavily folded check over along with her debit card. The teller looked at the crumpled check, worth a ton of money, with a contract on the back and back at the girl who clearly was not used to this kind of money. Riley couldn’t look more suspicious.

“We’re going to have to get a manager here,” motioned Riley over to the side. Riley sighed figuring this might happen. Eventually a man in a suit came out from behind the counter and motioned Riley over to an open office with a little annoyance. Riley gulped and followed sitting down on the cheap chair across from this man’s cheap office desk.

“I’m going to be honest with you here this transaction has about a hundred different red flags,” The man said quickly holding a fresh copy of the check in his hands. “The amount alone would necessitate extra scrutiny, but the contract attached, and who this is from. How did you get this?”

“It’s a long story,” Riley squirmed in her chair.

“Right,” The man sighed and got to work on his computer. “I’m just going to let you know now that if we find out this was illegally obtained we will have to contact the police.”

“I didn’t get it illegally,” Riley pouted. “Just under extenuating circumstances.”

“Yeah that’s not any better.” Riley sighed again.

“What if the contract has been voided?”

“Then you just don’t get the money. If it’s voided though you really shouldn’t be trying to cash this.” Riley grimaced, and the room was silent for a while as the man worked on his computer working through every possible scenario of counterfeiting or fraud before finally determining that the check was legitimate. “Well good news. The check is legit, but with this contract we need to make a few calls.

“Great,” Riley was nervous as the man left the room to a nearby phone. The walls to all the office were made of glass so Riley could watch as the man made the call, and he was on the call a while, even making another call more than once. After about an hour of waiting he finally returned to the office.

“Bad new, good news. The contract was void, but the benefactor has decided to cut you a new check, with the same amount no strings attached. We’re wiring the amount over to your account now.”

“Wait really?” Riley leaned forward in surprise. “Rachel. Rachel did that.”

“I don’t know who did what, but it’s coming from the Wollingtech account so either her or someone high up likes you enough to honor it even though you breached contract.” Riley sat back processing this information. “You got some friends in high places that’s for sure, you should send them my number some time,” The man chuckled. “Now a different problem here is that we’re going to have to upgrade your account to hold the extra funds. I have a few options for you to consider here.”

It was another few hours before Riley finally left the bank with the money safely in her new bank account. She didn’t know what her plans were, but she knew she couldn’t stay here, not with Rachel and Fara running around. The part of her life that involved Fara was over, and now she had the funds and investment options to start a new life somewhere else. It was a scary prospect, but staying here watching Fara be taken away from her wasn’t something she could handle.