Chapter 3 - THE SIGNATURE HE NEEDED
The contractions stopped by morning, but the doctor kept me for observation.
From my hospital bed, I gave Naomi permission to notify the lender that the signature was disputed. Elias coordinated with the dealership and my insurer so the SUV could be recovered without anyone confronting Derek.
I wanted to call him.
I wanted him to hear that I knew.
Naomi stopped me.
“Right now, he’s creating evidence for us because he thinks you’re frightened and isolated.”
At 8:40 a.m., Derek left me a voicemail.
His tone was soft, almost patient.
“Mara, I told the police what happened because I was worried. Call me when you’re calm. We can fix this, but you need to stop making reckless decisions.”
He had learned how to speak like the reasonable person in every room.
Elias reached the warehouse with an insurance investigator and a sheriff’s deputy. The SUV was locked, but Derek’s digital key no longer worked. Through the rear window, they could see my coat, purse, and shoes.
The loan closing had not occurred. The notary said Derek had claimed his wife was delayed at the hospital and would sign remotely.
Inside Derek’s office, the deputy could not search without consent or a warrant. Elias did not pretend otherwise. He photographed only what was visible through the open doorway: a printer, several folders, and a whiteboard covered with overdue payroll dates.
The construction company was in worse trouble than Derek had admitted. Two projects had been canceled. A subcontractor had filed a lien. Payroll taxes were three months behind.
I knew the business had been struggling. Derek had blamed weather delays and material costs. Whenever I offered to review the numbers, he accused me of treating him like an employee.
My cousin Tessa handled bookkeeping for the company two afternoons a week. When Naomi called her, Tessa began crying.
“Derek asked me for copies of Mara’s trust statements,” she admitted. “He said they were applying for a mortgage together.”
“Why didn’t you ask me?” I said.
“You always defended him. I thought you’d be angry at me for interfering.”
She forwarded six months of emails.
Derek had repeatedly described me as emotionally unstable, forgetful, and incapable of understanding financial decisions. He had told the lender I was experiencing a “high-risk psychiatric pregnancy” and preferred that he handle documents on my behalf.
He had also included a letter from someone claiming to be my medical provider.
The letter was signed by a doctor I had never met.
Naomi studied it, then said, “A fraudulent loan is only part of this. He’s been building a record that you can’t manage your own affairs.”
May you like
On the bottom of the final email, Derek had written:
After the baby is born, I expect to have legal authority to act for both of them.
