Chapter 5: The Debt They Put in My Name
Camille arrived at Thomas Whitaker's office less than forty minutes later.
Nia came with her.
Thomas was waiting in the conference room with another attorney, a woman named Rebecca Collins, who specialized in financial fraud and civil litigation.
Two thick folders sat on the table.
Thomas stood when Camille entered.
“Mrs. Reed, I'm glad you came.””
Camille sat down.
“Tell me exactly what you found.””
Rebecca opened the first folder.
“The $175,000 loan application was submitted to a private lender six weeks ago. The application identifies Derrick Reed and Reed Family Holdings LLC as the borrowers.””
“And my house?””
“Listed as collateral.””
Camille frowned.
“I thought the house was in our names.””
“It is. However, the property records indicate that a deed modification was submitted three months ago.””
Camille felt her stomach tighten.
“What modification?””
Rebecca turned the document toward her.
It was a quitclaim deed.
The document purported to transfer a portion of Camille's ownership interest into a company controlled by Derrick.
Camille stared at it.
“I never signed this.””
Rebecca nodded.
“We suspected that.””
“Who witnessed it?””
“A notary named Sandra Mills.””
Camille looked at the signature.
The handwriting looked familiar.
Too familiar.
It resembled the signature on the insurance authorization.
“How many documents have they forged?””
Rebecca folded her hands.
“We cannot establish that yet. But we have identified three suspicious transactions involving your personal information.””
Camille leaned forward.
“Three?””
“The beneficiary transfer, the quitclaim deed, and the personal guarantee.””
She opened the second folder.
“This is the $600,000 loan application.””
Camille looked at the first page.
Her name was listed as co-borrower.
Derrick was listed as the primary borrower.
The stated purpose was commercial property acquisition.
She shook her head.
“I have never applied for a $600,000 loan.””
Rebecca nodded.
“The lender has not released the funds. The application is currently under review because of inconsistencies in the financial disclosures.””
“Could they still approve it?””
“Not if we intervene properly and provide evidence that your signature was unauthorized.””
Camille stared at the papers.
For the first time, the situation felt bigger than a cruel mother-in-law or an unfaithful husband.
Derrick had potentially placed her financial future at risk.
He had used her name as a tool.
And he had done it while she was paying their household bills.
“Why would he need that much money?”” she asked.
Thomas opened another folder.
“Because Reed Family Holdings is in financial trouble.””
Camille looked up.
“What?””
“Several properties are carrying substantial debt. The company has also fallen behind on payments to two contractors and a commercial lender.””
“How much does it owe?””
Rebecca answered.
“Approximately $940,000, excluding the proposed new loans.””
Camille sat back.
She remembered Derrick telling her that his business was finally recovering.
He had said he was negotiating new contracts.
He had said the family investments were doing well.
He had even encouraged her to reduce her savings contributions because he wanted to take over more household expenses.
She had agreed.
He had not paid the mortgage for four months.
She had been covering it without realizing he had stopped transferring his share.
“Where did the money go?”” she asked.
Thomas slid over several bank statements.
“Some went toward Patricia's personal expenses. Some went toward the Mercedes. Some went to Sterling Events and Hospitality.””
“Lauren's company.””
Thomas nodded.
“Correct.””
Camille looked at the transfers.
$8,000.
$12,500.
$6,750.
$19,000.
The payments were spread across several months.
“What did Lauren provide in return?””
“We're still reviewing the company's invoices,” Rebecca said.
Camille shook her head.
“I don't understand. If the company was losing money, why were they spending like this?””
Rebecca gave her a careful look.
“Because the people controlling it appear to have believed additional financing would solve the problem.””
Camille looked down.
“Using my name.””
“Potentially, yes.””
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Camille asked the question she had been avoiding.
“Can Derrick put me in debt without my knowledge?””
Rebecca answered firmly.
“Not legitimately. But fraudulent applications can create serious complications, especially if they are not challenged quickly.””
“What should I do?””
“First, we will notify the lenders that you dispute the signatures and did not authorize the transactions. Second, we will request a hold on any further disbursement. Third, we recommend that you separate your financial accounts and protect your credit.””
Camille nodded.
“I'll do whatever is necessary.””
Thomas closed one folder.
“There is something else.””
She looked at him.
“Your father-in-law anticipated that Derrick might attempt to use the family assets to cover personal debts.””
Camille frowned.
“What do you mean?””
“Raymond had concerns about his son's financial decisions. Before his death, he transferred the controlling interests in several properties into the trust.””
“Which properties?””
Thomas opened a property schedule.
He pointed to the first address.
Camille recognized it.
It was a commercial building in Buckhead.
She had attended the opening reception there with Raymond several years earlier.
The second was a small shopping center outside Atlanta.
The third was a medical office complex.
The fourth was a warehouse property.
Camille scanned the estimated values.
Together, they were worth approximately $3.8 million.
“Why didn't Derrick tell me?””
“Because he wasn't appointed trustee.””
“Did he receive anything from the trust?””
“Your father-in-law left him a limited beneficiary interest. He can receive distributions under certain conditions, but he cannot sell or borrow against the properties.””
Camille looked up.
“And I'm the trustee?””
“Yes.””
“Then can I stop him from using them as collateral?””
“You can refuse unauthorized transactions and direct the trust's legal representatives to challenge any attempted encumbrance.””
Camille stared at the property schedule.
A strange feeling settled over her.
Not excitement.
Not revenge.
Responsibility.
Raymond had trusted her with something enormous.
And the people who had treated her like an outsider were now trying to use the same assets for their own benefit.
“What happens if I accept the position?”” she asked.
Thomas answered carefully.
“You will be responsible for protecting the trust according to its terms. That includes acting in the interests of its beneficiaries, maintaining proper records, and refusing improper transactions.””
“I already signed the acceptance documents.””
“Then the appointment process is underway.””
Camille nodded.
“Good.””
Rebecca closed her folder.
“One final recommendation. Don't confront Derrick again without legal guidance.””
Camille gave a tired smile.
“I think I've had enough conversations with him.””
But she was not prepared for the conversation that came next.
At 6:17 p.m., she received a call from Jason.
She almost ignored it.
Then she answered.
“Hello?””
“Camille, can you talk?””
“What's wrong?””
“Mom is at the house. Derrick's losing his mind.””
Camille closed her eyes.
“What happened?””
“He says you went to a lawyer.””
“I did.””
“Mom says you're trying to take everything away from the family.””
Camille looked at the documents in front of her.
“Jason, did you know about the insurance money?””
There was a long silence.
Then he said, “I knew something was wrong.””
“What does that mean?””
“Mom told me the money was being used for family investments. I didn't know it was supposed to be yours.””
“Did Derrick tell you?””
“No.””
Camille exhaled.
“Why are you calling?””
Jason lowered his voice.
“Because I found something in Dad's old office.””
“What?””
“A second letter. It has your name on it.””
Camille sat straighter.
“What kind of letter?””
“I think it's from Dad's attorney. It was inside an envelope with my name written on it.””
“Why was your name on it?””
“I don't know. But there's something in it about the family business.””
Camille looked toward Thomas.
He had heard enough to understand.
“Jason,” Camille said, “don't let anyone take that letter.””
“I won't.””
“Take pictures and send them to me.””
“I will.””
He hesitated.
“Camille?””
“Yes?””
“There's something else. Mom told Derrick to move the remaining money out of the company before the court gets involved.””
Camille froze.
“How much is left?””
“I don't know. But I heard her say the trust account.””
Camille's eyes moved to Thomas.
He immediately reached for his phone.
“Jason,” Camille said, “listen carefully. Did she say the trust account or the company account?””
“The trust account.””
Thomas stood.
“That's impossible,” he whispered.
Camille looked at him.
“What?””
Thomas opened his laptop.
He typed rapidly, then turned the screen toward her.
A pending transaction appeared.
<text color="secondary" size="xs" weight="semibold">TRUST ACCOUNT — TRANSACTION ALERT</text>
<title size="2xl" color="danger" tabularNums={true}>$750,000</title>
<badge color="danger">PENDING WITHDRAWAL</badge>
The recipient was Reed Family Holdings LLC.
The authorization request had been submitted less than an hour earlier.
Camille stared at the screen.
“Who approved this?””
Thomas clicked into the transaction details.
His expression changed.
“The request was submitted using your trustee credentials.””
Camille felt the blood drain from her face.
“That isn't possible. I haven't even received access to the account.””
Thomas looked directly at her.
“Someone has obtained your credentials.””
Rebecca immediately called the bank's trust department.
Camille stood frozen while the two attorneys began issuing instructions.
Then her phone vibrated.
A message from Derrick appeared.
*Derrick:* I know you've been talking to Thomas. Stop this nonsense before you destroy your own family.
A second message followed.
*Derrick:* Mom says you have no idea what you're dealing with. Come home tonight and sign the documents. We can still fix everything.
Camille stared at the screen.
Then a third message arrived.
*Derrick:* If you don't cooperate, you'll regret what happens next.
For the first time, Camille wasn't afraid of losing her marriage.
She was afraid of what her husband might do to keep the money.
And then Thomas returned from the phone call.
He looked pale.
“Mrs. Reed, the bank has temporarily frozen the withdrawal.””
Camille exhaled.
“Thank God.””
“But there's a problem.””
“What?””
Thomas placed a printed authorization form in front of her.
It contained her name, her supposed electronic signature, and an additional verification statement.
Camille read the final line.
Then she looked up.
The authorization claimed that she had personally approved the transfer during a video verification call.
But the date and time listed on the document were impossible.
May you like
Because at that exact moment, Camille had been sitting in Thomas Whitaker's office.
And everyone in the room could prove it.
