PART 2
At seven twelve the next morning, Marcus called.
His voice had changed.
The sleepy confusion was gone.
“Evelyn, we have a serious problem.”
“How serious?”
“Rachel obtained private financing through Benton Capital eleven months ago.”
“I know.”
“No. You know part of it.”
I sat down.
Marcus continued.
“She represented that Daniel had authorization from Caldwell Property Group to pledge a future ownership interest in the estate as collateral.”
My hand tightened around my coffee mug.
“Daniel has no ownership interest.”
“Correct.”
“And Caldwell never authorized anything.”
“Correct again.”
“Whose signature did she use?”
Marcus hesitated.
“Yours.”
For several seconds, I heard nothing but the rain hitting my kitchen windows.
“She forged my signature?”
“Based on what I’m looking at, somebody did.”
“How much?”
“Just under $1.6 million.”
I closed my eyes.
Rachel had not merely borrowed against a property she did not own.
She had apparently manufactured paperwork to make a lender believe she had authority she never possessed.
“Does Daniel know?”
“I can’t prove what he knew when the loan was taken out.”
“But?”
“There are emails showing he learned about it at least four months ago.”
There it was.
The second betrayal.
The first had arrived by text message.
The second came wrapped in legal exhibits.
Marcus continued.
“The occupancy agreement is very clear. Any unauthorized attempt to encumber the estate, conceal material liabilities connected to the property, or misrepresent ownership rights is an immediate default.”
“So terminate it.”
“Evelyn.”
“You heard me.”
“If we enforce everything today, they will lose possession.”
“I understand.”
“There will probably be litigation.”
“I understand.”
“Rachel may face a fraud investigation.”
“I understand that too.”
“And Daniel is going to know this started because of last night.”
“No,” I said quietly. “Last night didn’t cause this.”
I looked toward the framed school picture of Noah on my refrigerator.
“Last night simply convinced me to stop protecting people from the consequences of choices they had already made.”
Marcus was silent for a moment.
Then he asked, “Where do you want the notices delivered?”
I looked at the clock.
Noah’s birthday party started at noon.
“To the estate.”
“When?”
“During the party.”
“Evelyn…”
“They wanted me absent because I didn’t fit their image.”
I stood.
“So I think it’s time everybody learns whose image they’ve been living inside.”
