Chapter 7: My Sister Was Part of the Plan
"That's impossible," I whispered.
The investigator repeated the name.
"Rebecca Miller. The application lists her as the proposed new beneficiary of your husband's life insurance policy. We need to establish whether Mr. Miller authorized this change.""
My sister.
Rebecca had been my closest friend since childhood. She was the person who'd held my hand at our mother's funeral, helped me choose my wedding dress, and promised David she would always look after me.
She was also the woman who had spent last Thanksgiving sitting at our kitchen table, telling Maya how proud she was of her hard work.
Now her name was attached to a document that could strip my children of their financial security.
"Did my husband sign this?"" I asked.
"That's what we're investigating. The signature appears consistent with the one on your existing policy, but we haven't verified its authenticity.""
David's signature.
Another signature.
Another lie.
"Mrs. Miller, do you know why your sister would be listed as the beneficiary?""
I gripped the counter.
"No.""
It was the first honest answer I'd given all day.
The investigator asked me to come in the following morning with any relevant correspondence. I agreed, then ended the call and immediately dialed Rebecca.
She answered cheerfully.
"Hey, Sarah! I was just thinking about you.""
"Did you change David's life insurance beneficiary?""
Silence.
Then a small, nervous laugh.
"What?""
"Your name is on an application to replace me as the beneficiary of his policy. Did you do it?""
"Sarah, I have no idea what you're talking about.""
"The bank has your name.""
"Then someone made a mistake.""
"Rebecca, stop lying to me.""
Her voice hardened.
"Excuse me?""
"Michael is committing fraud. He's been using our property documents and David's identity to obtain loans. Now your name is on a life insurance application. Tell me what you know.""
For several seconds, all I heard was her breathing.
Then she asked a question that made my stomach tighten.
"Has David found the blue folder?""
I stopped moving.
"What?""
"The folder from his office. Did he find it?""
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"How do you know about the folder?""
Rebecca exhaled.
"Oh, Sarah.""
She said my name with the same tired affection she'd used when we were children and I'd broken something expensive.
"I was hoping Michael would have finished everything before you discovered it.""
The kitchen seemed to tilt.
"You knew?""
"I knew he was arranging financing.""
"You knew he was using David's identity?""
"I didn't know every detail.""
"But you knew enough to ask about the folder!""
"Because I helped him prepare the paperwork.""
I couldn't breathe.
My sister continued as though she were explaining a delayed flight.
"Sarah, listen to me. This doesn't have to become a disaster. Michael promised everyone would be paid back.""
"Everyone?""
She went quiet.
I heard a door close on her end.
Then she said, "You need to stop talking to the bank.""
I almost dropped the phone.
"Why?""
"Because they'll freeze everything. The transfers, the property agreements, all of it. If that happens, none of us gets our money back.""
"Our money?""
Rebecca didn't answer.
I thought of the missing $680, the money Maya had earned one babysitting job at a time.
I thought of the $7,000 missing from our joint savings.
"Did you take money from us?""
"I invested in Michael's business.""
"With what money?""
She hesitated.
Then she said, "The money you transferred.""
I stared at the wall.
"You told me those transfers were for the apartment.""
"They were supposed to be. Michael said he could use the money temporarily and replace it before you noticed.""
"You knew he was taking our savings?""
"Don't act like you weren't involved, Sarah. You signed the documents. You gave him the money. You wanted a new life, and he offered you one.""
The words were cruel because they were partly true.
I had wanted the apartment. I'd wanted to leave David without having to admit how unhappy I'd become.
But I had never agreed to steal his identity or take his life insurance.
"Rebecca, what did you do with the beneficiary application?""
"I submitted it.""
My knees weakened.
"Did David authorize it?""
"No.""
The word came out quietly.
"Michael said he would handle the signature. I only filled in the form.""
I pressed a hand over my mouth.
My sister had helped someone forge her brother-in-law's signature.
Then she had submitted the paperwork herself.
"Why would you do this to us?""
Rebecca's voice rose.
"Because I'm drowning, Sarah! Do you have any idea how much debt I'm in?""
I blinked.
"What debt?""
"The restaurant. The loans. The money I borrowed to keep the place open. Michael said he could help me refinance everything if I invested with him.""
She had opened a small restaurant two years earlier. I'd attended the grand opening, watched her cut the ribbon, and listened to her promise our mother she'd finally built something permanent.
When the restaurant struggled, she'd insisted everything was fine.
I'd believed her.
"How much do you owe?"" I asked.
"Almost two hundred thousand dollars.""
I gripped the counter.
"And Michael promised to erase that debt?""
"He said the property deals would generate enough money to cover it.""
"So you helped him take our house to save your restaurant?""
"I didn't think anyone would actually lose anything!""
I closed my eyes.
There it was again.
The same excuse I'd used when I stole from Maya.
I didn't think anyone would lose anything.
"Rebecca, the bank is investigating. You need to tell them the truth.""
"No.""
"You're going to make this worse.""
"If you cooperate, you'll destroy me!""
"You've already helped destroy my family.""
Her breathing became ragged.
Then her voice dropped to a whisper.
"Sarah, you don't understand. Michael has something on David, too.""
My stomach tightened.
"What are you talking about?""
"Something from before you were married. Something he found when he started looking into the properties.""
"What did he find?""
Rebecca hesitated.
Then she said, "Ask David why his father's rental property was transferred into his name six months earlier than the date on the will.""
The call disconnected.
I stared at my phone.
I didn't know what that meant.
But I knew Rebecca hadn't mentioned it by accident.
A moment later, another message arrived from her.
*If you want to keep David safe, meet me at the restaurant tomorrow at seven. Come alone.*
I was still staring at it when the front door opened.
David walked into the kitchen carrying a thick folder from the police station.
He took one look at my face.
"What happened?""
I handed him the phone.
He read the messages without speaking.
When he reached Rebecca's final message, he looked up sharply.
"Your sister knows about the property transfer?""
"I don't know what she means.""
David put the phone down.
"Neither do I.""
Then he opened the folder he'd brought home.
Inside were copies of the property records, the loan applications, and a document the investigator had asked him to review.
He turned to the final page.
His face went pale.
"Sarah," he whispered, "my father's property wasn't transferred into my name six months early.""
He pointed to the date.
"It was transferred out of my name six months ago.""
May you like
And beneath the altered ownership record was the signature of the person who'd authorized the transfer.
*David Miller.*
