Chapter 9 - THE HOUSE BARBARA BET
Barbara’s Wheaton bungalow had belonged to her and her late husband for thirty-one years.
She had not merely opened a small home-equity line.
She had borrowed $168,000 against it.
Some went to Ethan and Cody’s failed business.
Some paid medical bills after Barbara’s husband died.
Some covered ordinary living expenses she had been too embarrassed to admit she could no longer afford.
Bradley had promised to solve it.
The Lake Geneva duplex was his solution.
Barbara would sell her bungalow after the purchase closed.
Part of the sale proceeds would clear her debt.
She would then live in the downstairs unit of the Lake Geneva property.
The upstairs rental income, Bradley claimed, would support her retirement and eventually repay everyone.
“Everyone except me,” Maddie said.
Barbara looked down.
They were sitting in a coffee shop halfway between their homes.
Barbara wore no makeup.
Maddie had never seen her look small before.
“I thought you agreed to give Bradley the money.”
“I agreed to invest it.”
“He said you didn’t want your name involved because of your work.”
Maddie stared at her.
“Barbara, that doesn’t even make sense.”
“It did when he explained it.”
“Did you sign the gift document?”
Barbara’s eyes moved toward the window.
“Yes.”
“Did you see my signature?”
Barbara nodded.
“And you didn’t ask me?”
“Bradley said you had already signed electronically.”
Maddie pushed her coffee away.
Barbara reached across the table.
Maddie moved her hand.
“Don’t.”
Barbara withdrew it.
“The night at the pool,” Maddie said, “why did you stop Bradley when I picked up my phone?”
Barbara swallowed.
“Because he had been drinking.”
“No.”
Maddie waited.
Barbara finally whispered, “Because I knew if you canceled the transfer, the lender would start asking questions.”
That explained Barbara’s fear.
It did not explain everything.
Before leaving, Barbara said something Maddie could not fit anywhere yet.
“You think Bradley did this because he wanted your money.”
“Didn’t he?”
May you like
Barbara shook her head.
“Bradley was already planning for what happened after he didn’t need it anymore.”
