Bree glanced at the entries. On the first day of the month there was a transfer to their grandmother’s new account. “That’s Granny’s living allowance. That account was set up after Pa died.” She looked further along the dates. A few days later a larger amount was transferred to an account in Pa’s name. She lifted the pages until she came to the start of the previous month and saw the same entries.

“So unless the bank has a direct line to heaven I’m assuming that’s a joint account that Granny can access.” Kate tapped the page with her finger again.

Bree looked at her sister. “You think she’s double dipping?”

Kate shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m only guessing, but the amount going to the old account is slightly larger so it was probably Granny and Pa’s joint allowance. Maybe when the new account was set up they overlooked stopping payments to the old one.”

“Hell.” Bree sifted through the papers. “That’s probably been going on for…” She glanced up at the calendar. “Nearly a year. That’s a lot of money.”

“Maybe it’s just sitting there.”

“You think Granny’s forgotten it.”

“Or she doesn’t know the account’s still open.”

“Mum pays most of her accounts.”

“I see that. Talk about double dipping. The farm pays for everything and she gets an allowance.”

“She buys her own food and clothes. She’d have the hairdresser, gifts.” Bree stopped at that. Her grandmother had always been generous with her gift-giving but since Pa had died she only gave cards for birthdays and they’d all got chocolates last Christmas. Bree had assumed she’d decided to cut back and keep it simple.

“Wish I had her budget.” Kate was staring at the bank statements again.

“Statements are all online these days and I doubt she looks at them. She may have assumed one account was closed when the other was opened.” Bree tugged open the drawer beneath the computer, forcing them both back in their chairs.

“What are you doing?”

“Mum would have set up the account for Granny.” Bree reached in and felt around at the back of the drawer. “She keeps a little book with usernames and passwords.”

“Surely not for bank accounts?” Kate looked horrified.

“Not hers, but I wonder if she might have written down Granny’s in case she had to access it.”