Chapter 7: The Woman Behind the Loan
The following morning, Daniel placed a thick folder on his conference table.
I had barely slept.
Lily was still in the hotel room with a trusted caregiver on his conference table.
I had barely slept.
Lily was still in the hotel room with a trusted caregiver Daniel had helped arrange while I attended the meeting.
I opened the folder.
The first page was the home equity application.
The Daniel had helped arrange while I attended the meeting.
I opened the folder.
The first page was the home equity application.
The second was a bank verification form.
The third was a transfer authorization.
And the fourth contained the second was a bank verification form.
The third was a transfer authorization.
And the fourth contained the name of the intended recipient.
Patricia Lawson.
My mother-in-law.
I looked at Daniel.
"Why would my wife take name of the intended recipient.
Patricia Lawson.
My mother-in-law.
I looked at Daniel.
"Why would my wife take out a loan against our house for her mother?""
"That's what we're trying to establish.""
"Was the application approved?""
"Not yet. The lender flagged the signature discrepancy and the unusual mailing-address change.""
I ex out a loan against our house for her mother?""
"That's what we're trying to establish.""
"Was the application approved?""
"Not yet. The lender flagged the signature discrepancy and the unusual mailing-address change.""
I exhaled.
"At least something stopped them.""
Daniel nodded.
"But there's more.""
He opened another document.
It was an email exchange between Vanessa and a loan broker.
One message caughthaled.
"At least something stopped them.""
Daniel nodded.
"But there's more.""
He opened another document.
It was an email exchange between Vanessa and a loan broker.
One message caught my attention immediately.
Vanessa had written:
Marcus will be away until Friday. We need to complete the paperwork before he returns.
I read it again.
Then I looked at Daniel.
my attention immediately.
Vanessa had written:
Marcus will be away until Friday. We need to complete the paperwork before he returns.
I read it again.
Then I looked at Daniel.
"She knew I was coming home Thursday?""
"Apparently.""
"She thought I wouldn't find"She knew I was coming home Thursday?""
"Apparently.""
"She thought I wouldn't find out.""
Daniel didn't answer.
I continued reading.
Another email contained a sentence that made my stomach turn.
*The child out.""
Daniel didn't answer.
I continued reading.
Another email contained a sentence that made my stomach turn.
The child situation is under control. Patricia can handle the paperwork once we have the original documents.
I slammed the situation is under control. Patricia can handle the paperwork once we have the original documents.*
I slammed the folder shut.
"The child situation?""
Daniel raised a hand.
"Marcus, I know how this looks. But we need folder shut.
"The child situation?""
Daniel raised a hand.
"Marcus, I know how this looks. But we need the full context.""
"What context could make that acceptable?""
"None. But we need to the full context.""
"What context could make that acceptable?""
"None. But we need to establish what they intended and whether the financial activity is connected to the treatment of Lily.""
I stood establish what they intended and whether the financial activity is connected to the treatment of Lily.""
I stood up and walked toward the window.
Outside, Atlanta traffic moved beneath the morning sun.
People were going to work.
Parents up and walked toward the window.
Outside, Atlanta traffic moved beneath the morning sun.
People were going to work.
Parents were dropping their children at school.
Somewhere, a little girl was probably complaining about eating broccoli were dropping their children at school.
Somewhere, a little girl was probably complaining about eating broccoli.
Meanwhile, my daughter had been asking permission to eat strawberries.
I turned back.
"Can we speak to Patricia?""
.
Meanwhile, my daughter had been asking permission to eat strawberries.
I turned back.
"Can we speak to Patricia?""
"Not without considering the legal implications. I'd rather let the authorities handle any interview connected to the possible"Not without considering the legal implications. I'd rather let the authorities handle any interview connected to the possible fraud.""
I nodded.
Then Daniel showed me a photograph from the security footage.
Patricia was standing beside the storage room door.
She held a small silver box.
I recognized it immediately.
fraud.""
I nodded.
Then Daniel showed me a photograph from the security footage.
Patricia was standing beside the storage room door.
She held a small silver box.
I recognized it immediately.
It was the box Vanessa kept in her bedroom dresser.
I had seen it countless times.
"What is inside that box?""
"WeIt was the box Vanessa kept in her bedroom dresser.
I had seen it countless times.
"What is inside that box?""
"We don't know.""
I stared at the photograph.
"Could it be jewelry?""
"Possibly don't know.""
I stared at the photograph.
"Could it be jewelry?""
"Possibly.""
But I remembered what Lily had said.
Grandma brings a little box.
I.""
But I remembered what Lily had said.
Grandma brings a little box.
I took out my phone and called my mother-in-law.
She answered after three rings.
"Marcus.""
Her voice was sweet.
Almost too sweet.
"Patricia, we need to talk.""
"Of course took out my phone and called my mother-in-law.
She answered after three rings.
"Marcus.""
Her voice was sweet.
Almost too sweet.
"Patricia, we need to talk.""
"Of course. I've been trying to reach you.""
"Why were you in my daughter's room while I was away?""
Silence.
Then. I've been trying to reach you.""
"Why were you in my daughter's room while I was away?""
Silence.
Then she laughed.
"Your daughter? Marcus, I was helping Vanessa.""
"Helping her do what?""
"Raising Lily. Something you apparently she laughed.
"Your daughter? Marcus, I was helping Vanessa.""
"Helping her do what?""
"Raising Lily. Something you apparently haven't been doing.""
I gripped the phone.
"Did you lock Lily in that storage room?""
"Don't be ridiculous.""
"Did you?""
Patricia sighed.
"Sometimes haven't been doing.""
I gripped the phone.
"Did you lock Lily in that storage room?""
"Don't be ridiculous.""
"Did you?""
Patricia sighed.
"Sometimes children need discipline.""
"She's three years old!""
"And she is spoiled.""
I closed my eyes.
"Did children need discipline.""
"She's three years old!""
"And she is spoiled.""
I closed my eyes.
"Did you bring a silver box into that room?""
Another pause.
"Who told you that?""
I looked at Daniel.
He was watching me carefully.
you bring a silver box into that room?""
Another pause.
"Who told you that?""
I looked at Daniel.
He was watching me carefully.
"Answer the question.""
Patricia's voice became colder.
"You're making a terrible mistake by listening to that"Answer the question.""
Patricia's voice became colder.
"You're making a terrible mistake by listening to that little girl.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"What does that mean?""
"Children say whatever they think adults little girl.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"What does that mean?""
"Children say whatever they think adults want to hear.""
"Did you tell her not to talk to me?""
"Marcus, you have no idea what your wife has been dealing with.""
"Then explain it want to hear.""
"Did you tell her not to talk to me?""
"Marcus, you have no idea what your wife has been dealing with.""
"Then explain it.""
She lowered her voice.
"Your wife was overwhelmed. You were gone all the time. Someone had to help her.""
.""
She lowered her voice.
"Your wife was overwhelmed. You were gone all the time. Someone had to help her.""
"By locking a three-year-old in a room?""
"She wasn't hurt.""
I"By locking a three-year-old in a room?""
"She wasn't hurt.""
I looked at Daniel.
He was writing something down.
I forced myself to remain calm.
"Why did you need my looked at Daniel.
He was writing something down.
I forced myself to remain calm.
"Why did you need my property documents?""
Patricia went silent.
Then she said something that confirmed everything.
"Because your wife deserves financial property documents?""
Patricia went silent.
Then she said something that confirmed everything.
"Because your wife deserves financial security too.""
I stared at the phone.
"She has financial security.""
"Not enough.""
"We have a house, security too.""
I stared at the phone.
"She has financial security.""
"Not enough.""
"We have a house, savings, and insurance.""
"All under your control.""
I slowly sat down.
"Is that what this is about?""
Patricia savings, and insurance.""
"All under your control.""
I slowly sat down.
"Is that what this is about?""
Patricia laughed bitterly.
"You have no idea how much Vanessa has sacrificed for you.""
"She had access to our accounts.""
"She should laughed bitterly.
"You have no idea how much Vanessa has sacrificed for you.""
"She had access to our accounts.""
"She should have had more.""
"Did you help her forge my signature?""
The silence lasted several seconds.
Then Patricia hung up.
I stared have had more.""
"Did you help her forge my signature?""
The silence lasted several seconds.
Then Patricia hung up.
I stared at the screen.
Daniel leaned forward.
"That was useful.""
"She basically admitted involvement.""
"We'll preserve the call details at the screen.
Daniel leaned forward.
"That was useful.""
"She basically admitted involvement.""
"We'll preserve the call details and document your account of the conversation. But don't contact her again.""
I nodded.
For the next hour, and document your account of the conversation. But don't contact her again.""
I nodded.
For the next hour, we reviewed the documents.
The application had been submitted three weeks earlier.
The proposed loan amount was $185,000.
The intended use was listed as home we reviewed the documents.
The application had been submitted three weeks earlier.
The proposed loan amount was $185,000.
The intended use was listed as home improvements and debt consolidation.
But the supporting bank account belonged to Patricia.
Daniel explained that the lender had suspended the application pending improvements and debt consolidation.
But the supporting bank account belonged to Patricia.
Daniel explained that the lender had suspended the application pending verification.
He also arranged for me to notify the appropriate authorities about the suspected forged signature and attempted financial fraud.
By noon verification.
He also arranged for me to notify the appropriate authorities about the suspected forged signature and attempted financial fraud.
By noon, I returned to the hotel.
Lily was sitting on the carpet, arranging her stuffed animals in a row.
When she saw me, she, I returned to the hotel.
Lily was sitting on the carpet, arranging her stuffed animals in a row.
When she saw me, she jumped up.
"Daddy!""
I picked her up.
"Hey, sweetheart.""
She pressed her cheek against mine.
"Did you jumped up.
"Daddy!""
I picked her up.
"Hey, sweetheart.""
She pressed her cheek against mine.
"Did you get pancakes?""
I laughed softly.
"Not yet.""
She looked disappointed.
I kissed her forehead.
"How about we get some get pancakes?""
I laughed softly.
"Not yet.""
She looked disappointed.
I kissed her forehead.
"How about we get some?""
She nodded enthusiastically.
But as I reached for my jacket, she suddenly became quiet.
"What's wrong?""
She?""
She nodded enthusiastically.
But as I reached for my jacket, she suddenly became quiet.
"What's wrong?""
She pointed toward the hotel door.
"Someone was here.""
My body stiffened.
"Who?""
"Grandma.""
I looked at the caregiver.
She shook pointed toward the hotel door.
"Someone was here.""
My body stiffened.
"Who?""
"Grandma.""
I looked at the caregiver.
She shook her head.
"I didn't see anyone come in.""
I crouched beside Lily.
"Did Grandma come inside?""
Lily nodded.
"She was outside.""
"Did she talk to you her head.
"I didn't see anyone come in.""
I crouched beside Lily.
"Did Grandma come inside?""
Lily nodded.
"She was outside.""
"Did she talk to you?""
"She said Mommy wants me.""
I felt cold.
"Did you open the door?""
Lily shook her head?""
"She said Mommy wants me.""
I felt cold.
"Did you open the door?""
Lily shook her head.
"No. The nice lady said I shouldn't.""
I thanked the caregiver.
Then I called hotel security.
They.
"No. The nice lady said I shouldn't.""
I thanked the caregiver.
Then I called hotel security.
They reviewed the hallway footage.
A woman matching Patricia's appearance had indeed been standing outside our reviewed the hallway footage.
A woman matching Patricia's appearance had indeed been standing outside our room for several minutes.
She had spoken to the front desk and claimed she was Lily's grandmother.
When security refused to let her upstairs without room for several minutes.
She had spoken to the front desk and claimed she was Lily's grandmother.
When security refused to let her upstairs without my authorization, she left.
I immediately informed Daniel.
He contacted the authorities handling the matter.
I was advised my authorization, she left.
I immediately informed Daniel.
He contacted the authorities handling the matter.
I was advised not to move Lily without coordinating our safety arrangements.
That evening, I sat beside my daughter while she ate not to move Lily without coordinating our safety arrangements.
That evening, I sat beside my daughter while she ate pancakes.
She was smiling now.
She even asked for extra strawberries.
But halfway through dinner, she looked at me and said something unexpected.
"Daddy?""
"Yes?""
"Grandma said Mommy has pancakes.
She was smiling now.
She even asked for extra strawberries.
But halfway through dinner, she looked at me and said something unexpected.
"Daddy?""
"Yes?""
"Grandma said Mommy has a new house.""
I put my fork down.
"What new house?""
Lily shrugged.
a new house.""
I put my fork down.
"What new house?""
Lily shrugged.
"She said we're going somewhere.""
"Where?""
"Somewhere with no Daddy.""
My stomach dropped.
Before I could ask another question, my phone rang"She said we're going somewhere.""
"Where?""
"Somewhere with no Daddy.""
My stomach dropped.
Before I could ask another question, my phone rang.
It was an unfamiliar number.
I answered.
"Hello?""
A man's voice came through.
"Mr. Bennett? My name is Robert Hayes..
It was an unfamiliar number.
I answered.
"Hello?""
A man's voice came through.
"Mr. Bennett? My name is Robert Hayes. I'm the investigator handling the financial complaint involving your property.""
"Yes?""
"We've obtained additional information from the lender.""
I stood I'm the investigator handling the financial complaint involving your property.""
"Yes?""
"We've obtained additional information from the lender.""
I stood up.
"What information?""
He paused.
"The loan application wasn't the only financial transaction we found.""
My grip tightened.
"What up.
"What information?""
He paused.
"The loan application wasn't the only financial transaction we found.""
My grip tightened.
"What else?""
"Someone attempted to change the ownership records for your house.""
I stared at the wall.
"To whose name else?""
"Someone attempted to change the ownership records for your house.""
I stared at the wall.
"To whose name?""
May you like
His answer made my blood run cold.
"Your daughter's.""
