Chapter 6: The Policy With My Daughters' Names
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
I could hear the faint hum of the office air conditioner and Poppy's soft breathing.
Then Sarah stood.
"Emily, I want you to listen carefully. We are not meeting that man alone.""
I nodded.
My hands were shaking too badly to hold my phone.
"What does he mean about the girls?""
"We'll find out. But first, we need to verify whether such a policy exists.""
She called the insurance company listed on our family paperwork.
After explaining the identity-theft concerns, she was transferred to a fraud specialist.
I provided the information she requested.
Ten minutes later, the specialist returned.
"Mrs. Carter, I can confirm that two dependent life insurance applications were submitted under your family account.""
I felt my throat close.
"When?""
"Approximately three weeks after the birth of your children.""
"Who submitted them?""
"Your husband, Tyler Carter.""
I stared at Sarah.
"How much coverage?""
The specialist hesitated.
"Each policy has a death benefit of $250,000.""
The room seemed to tilt.
I gripped the desk.
"Why would my husband take out half a million dollars in life insurance on our newborn daughters?""
The specialist remained professional.
"I can't speculate about the reason, ma'am. I can confirm that the policies are currently active.""
Sarah immediately interrupted.
"Please flag both policies for suspected fraud and suspend any changes pending investigation.""
"Certainly. We'll need additional documentation.""
"We'll provide it.""
After the call ended, I pressed both hands against my face.
I had spent months worrying about whether my daughters were gaining enough weight.
Whether they were sleeping enough.
Whether I was doing everything right.
Meanwhile, their father had apparently been arranging insurance policies behind my back.
Sarah pulled her chair closer.
"Emily, I need to ask you something difficult.""
I lowered my hands.
"Go ahead.""
"Did Tyler ever discuss taking out life insurance for the babies?""
"No.""
"Did you sign any applications?""
"Never.""
"Did you authorize him to sign on your behalf?""
"No.""
Sarah nodded.
"Then we'll treat this as suspected identity fraud and investigate the circumstances. Don't assume we know the motive yet.""
Rebecca was pacing beside the window.
"Vanessa told me Tyler was desperate for money. She said he'd been borrowing against everything he could.""
I looked at her.
"Everything?""
"His retirement account. His company travel allowances. Even money from a credit card he opened in your name.""
My stomach dropped.
"I never opened another credit card.""
Rebecca reached into her handbag and pulled out a folded statement.
"Then you should see this.""
The account was registered to my name.
The mailing address was our home.
The outstanding balance was $18,700.
And the most recent purchases included luxury jewelry, hotel reservations, and an expensive stroller.
I looked closer.
The stroller was the same brand I'd bought for Piper and Poppy.
Only this one had been delivered to an address in Fort Lauderdale.
"Who lives there?""
Rebecca gave me a sad look.
"Vanessa.""
I sat back.
For months, I'd been clipping coupons and comparing diaper prices.
My husband had been buying gifts for another woman with credit opened in my name.
Sarah gathered the documents.
"We're reporting every account and transaction. I'll also contact the appropriate authorities regarding the forged property documents.""
Then she looked at me.
"Can you think of anyone who might have helped Tyler access your financial information?""
I hesitated.
Then I remembered something.
"His mother.""
Rebecca turned.
"What about her?""
"Three months ago, Tyler's mother, Linda, came to stay with me for a week. She helped after the twins were born.""
I felt a chill move down my back.
"She asked me where I kept our important documents. I thought she wanted to help organize everything.""
Sarah's expression sharpened.
"Did she have access to the fireproof box?""
"Yes.""
"Did anything go missing?""
I pictured the box in our closet.
The passports.
The birth certificates.
The Social Security cards.
My breath caught.
"The twins' Social Security cards.""
I had requested replacements after the originals mysteriously disappeared.
Tyler had told me he'd misplaced them while organizing the paperwork.
I had believed him.
I opened my phone and searched for Linda's messages.
There was one from the day she left our house.
Sweetheart, I took a few documents to make copies for Tyler. I'll bring everything back when he returns.
I had replied with a heart.
I showed Sarah.
She read it twice.
"Did she tell you which documents?""
"No.""
Sarah's expression became serious.
"We need to speak with her.""
Before she could make the call, my phone rang.
Linda.
I looked at Rebecca.
Then I answered.
"Hello?""
"Emily, sweetheart!"" Linda's cheerful voice filled the room.
"I've been trying to reach you. Tyler told me you've been having some problems.""
I closed my eyes.
"What did he tell you?""
"Oh, you know how men are. He made some mistakes. But you need to think about the family.""
I stared at the two sleeping babies.
"Did you take Piper and Poppy's Social Security cards?""
There was a pause.
Then Linda sighed.
"I knew this would happen.""
My heart began pounding.
"What would happen?""
"Emily, Tyler told me you were going to make things difficult. He said you might try to keep the girls from him.""
"That doesn't answer my question.""
Her voice became colder.
"I gave him the documents because he needed them.""
"For what?""
"To secure the family's future.""
I almost dropped the phone.
"By opening insurance policies on newborn babies?""
Linda went silent.
Then she said something I will never forget.
"Those policies were supposed to protect the family if something happened.""
"What kind of something?""
"Don't twist my words.""
I stood up.
"Linda, did you know Tyler was planning to sell our house?""
"That was his decision.""
"Did you know he was having an affair?""
Another pause.
Then, quietly:
"Vanessa was supposed to be temporary.""
I felt my knees weaken.
"Supposed to be?""
Linda exhaled.
"Emily, you need to understand. Tyler was unhappy long before he left. He told me he couldn't spend his entire life supporting you and two children.""
I looked at my daughters.
"They're his children.""
"I know that.""
"Then why did you help him?""
Her voice suddenly sharpened.
"Because someone had to think about Tyler's future!""
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
I ended the call.
Rebecca put a hand on my shoulder.
Sarah was already writing down the time and details.
Then a new message appeared.
It was from an unfamiliar number.
A photograph.
Tyler standing outside a bank.
Vanessa beside him.
And between them was Linda.
All three were holding a document.
The message beneath the photograph contained only seven words:
Your mother-in-law wasn't helping him. She was paid.
I stared at the screen.
Then another message arrived.
And tomorrow, she's coming to take the twins.
I looked up at Sarah.
"Can she do that?""
Sarah's face hardened.
"Not without legal authority.""
She reached for her phone.
But before she could make the call, someone knocked on the office door.
Three sharp knocks.
The receptionist's voice came through.
"Sarah? There's a woman here asking for Emily Carter.""
Sarah stood.
"Who is she?""
The receptionist hesitated.
"She says she's the twins' grandmother.""
Then I heard Linda's voice from the hallway.
May you like
"Emily, sweetheart. Open the door. I've come to take my granddaughters home.""
And this time, she wasn't alone.
