Chapter 3: The Loan They Took in My Name
"Judith, I need you to come to my office immediately.""
Robert's voice was different.
I'd known him for three months. He was usually calm, measured, and almost impossible to rattle.
That morning, he sounded worried.
"Is something wrong with the purchase?""
"The property itself is fine. But we've uncovered something during our financial review.""
I sat down on the edge of my bed.
"What kind of something?""
"I'd rather explain in person. Please don't discuss this with your son or daughter-in-law yet.""
My stomach tightened.
"Robert, you're frightening me.""
"I understand. Just come in as soon as possible.""
I looked at the half-packed suitcases around my room.
"All right.""
Twenty minutes later, I was sitting across from him in his office.
A thick folder rested on his desk.
Robert removed his glasses.
"Judith, before we begin, I need to ask you something. Have you ever given Todd permission to use your personal information for a loan application?""
"No.""
"Have you ever signed an authorization allowing him to access your credit?""
"No. Why are you asking?""
He opened the folder.
Inside were several documents.
A copy of my old driver's license.
My Social Security information.
A financial statement.
And a signature that looked disturbingly similar to mine.
I leaned closer.
"Where did you get these?""
"They were attached to a financing application submitted by Todd and Megan several months ago.""
I stared at the papers.
"What financing application?""
Robert turned the first page toward me.
"A mortgage application connected to the Willow Creek property.""
I felt the blood drain from my face.
"They used my information?""
"Yes. The bank's preliminary review flagged inconsistencies in the authorization documents.""
I picked up the paper.
The signature looked like mine from a distance.
But the letter J was wrong.
George had taught me to write my signature in a particular way. Todd had seen it thousands of times.
Apparently, he'd learned how to imitate it.
"How much were they trying to borrow?""
Robert hesitated.
"That particular application was for a substantial amount. But that's not the only concern.""
He placed another document on the desk.
"This second application was submitted last week.""
I read the amount.
$6,800,000.
My hands began to shake.
"Six point eight million dollars?""
"Yes.""
"Against what?""
Robert turned another page.
"Assets belonging to Rosedale Holdings.""
I looked up.
"That's my company.""
"Exactly. Which is why this is particularly serious.""
I stood up.
"How could they possibly use my company as collateral? They don't own it.""
Robert nodded.
"That's what we need to establish. The application included information about the company that was not publicly available.""
I slowly sat down again.
"Who had access to that information?""
"That's what our investigation is trying to determine.""
My phone rang.
Todd.
I looked at Robert.
He gestured for me to answer.
"Hello, sweetheart.""
"Mom, where are you?""
"Out.""
"Where?""
"With my attorney.""
There was a pause.
Then his voice changed.
"Why are you talking to Robert?""
I looked at the documents.
"Because he has some interesting paperwork.""
Silence.
Then Todd said, "Mom, listen. Whatever he told you, there's been a misunderstanding.""
I felt my heart sink.
"You already know what he told me?""
"That's not what I meant.""
"Then what did you mean?""
He lowered his voice.
"Come home. We need to talk about this privately.""
I glanced at Robert.
"Why privately?""
"Because this is family business.""
I almost laughed.
"Family business?""
"Mom, don't do this.""
I ended the call.
Robert watched me carefully.
"Judith, I strongly recommend that you preserve every communication and avoid confronting them until we understand the full scope of what happened.""
I nodded.
Then I noticed something on the last page.
A contact email.
A name listed under the authorized representative.
I leaned closer.
"Robert, who is this?""
He followed my finger.
His expression darkened.
"That is the individual who submitted the second application.""
"Do you know him?""
Robert shook his head.
"Not personally. But the contact information appears to be connected to a business address in Phoenix.""
I stared at the name.
It wasn't Todd's.
It wasn't Megan's.
It belonged to someone I'd met before.
Someone who had attended George's funeral.
Someone who had hugged me and promised that our family would always look after me.
My brother-in-law.
George's younger brother.
Richard Calloway.
I whispered his name.
Robert looked at me.
"Do you know him?""
"He's my husband's brother.""
Robert closed the folder.
"Judith, there's something else.""
"What?""
"The bank's records show that the application was prepared using information about your lottery winnings.""
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
Then I looked at him.
"Who knew I had won?""
Robert didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he pulled out another sheet of paper.
"This is a record of a recent inquiry into your financial affairs. It was made through a third-party service.""
I stared at the date.
It was two weeks after I'd won.
Two weeks after I'd secretly collected my prize.
Two weeks after I'd told absolutely no one.
Except one person.
My former accountant.
A man named Daniel Price.
I had hired him years earlier to manage George's small business accounts.
He knew my financial history.
He knew where our documents were kept.
And he'd been the person who recommended that I use Robert's law firm after my lottery win.
I looked at Robert.
"Are you telling me someone leaked my private information?""
Robert folded his hands.
"I'm telling you we have evidence that several people may have been coordinating access to your financial information.""
My phone vibrated again.
This time, it was a text from Megan.
Judith, Todd says you're making accusations about us. Don't forget that we've taken care of you for years. We expect you to come home and discuss this like an adult.
I read it twice.
Then another message appeared.
Also, please don't do anything stupid with your money. You don't understand these investments.
I stared at the screen.
They knew.
Somehow, they knew I had money.
But they still didn't know how much.
Robert leaned forward.
"Judith, I need you to understand something. This may be much bigger than a fraudulent loan application.""
I looked at him.
"What do you mean?""
He turned the final page toward me.
It contained a proposed transfer of ownership.
My company.
My assets.
My signature.
And beneath it, a clause that made my stomach turn.
If approved, control of Rosedale Holdings would pass to a newly created company managed by Todd Calloway and Richard Calloway.
I stared at the document.
Then I whispered, "They weren't just trying to borrow my money.""
Robert shook his head.
"No. They were trying to take control of everything.""
I picked up my phone.
There were three missed calls from Todd.
One from Megan.
And one from Richard.
I pressed Richard's number.
He answered almost immediately.
"Judith! I've been trying to reach you.""
I kept my voice calm.
"Richard, we need to talk.""
"Of course. Anything for family.""
I looked at the forged signature on the desk.
"Good," I said.
"Because I have a few questions about why your name is on a document that could steal my entire company.""
The silence on the other end lasted several seconds.
Then Richard said something I never expected.
"Judith, you need to understand. Todd doesn't know the whole story.""
I gripped the phone.
"What story?""
Richard lowered his voice.
"The lottery wasn't the first time someone in this family tried to get access to your money.""
My blood ran cold.
May you like
"What are you talking about?""
And then he said George's name.
