Chapter 9: The Recording My Husband Couldn't Explain
I showed David Rebecca's messages.
He read them in silence.
When he reached the words Michael didn't forge every signature, he took the phone from my hand and read the sentence again.
"What does she mean?"" I asked.
David placed the phone on the desk.
"I don't know.""
But he didn't sound certain.
I watched him closely.
"David, is there something about your father's property that you haven't told me?""
He turned toward me.
"Not intentionally.""
"That's not an answer.""
He rubbed his jaw.
"After my father died, I found some documents in his office. There was a dispute over the rental property, and he had been meeting with Grant Holloway about it.""
"What kind of dispute?""
"One of the tenants claimed my father had promised to sell him the building. My father denied it. The matter was supposed to have been resolved before he died.""
I stared at him.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because it was a legal disagreement involving a tenant. I thought it was over.""
"Did you sign anything?""
David hesitated.
"One document.""
My stomach tightened.
"What document?""
"A statement confirming that I'd received the property records. Grant told me it was routine paperwork.""
I thought of my own signature on Michael's authorization.
The way I'd trusted someone because I wanted to believe him.
"Could the recording be real?""
"I don't know.""
David sat down and opened his laptop.
"If it is, I need to hear it before I decide what it means.""
I called Rebecca.
She didn't answer.
I sent a message asking her to explain the recording.
She replied with an address and a time.
*Tomorrow. Seven a.m. The restaurant. Come alone.*
I showed David.
He shook his head.
"You're not going alone.""
"She won't meet me if she knows you're coming.""
"Then let the investigator handle it.""
"She might know where the original documents are.""
David considered that.
Finally, he said, "You'll tell the investigator about the meeting. You won't sign anything, and you won't agree to any deal. If Rebecca refuses to cooperate, you leave.""
I nodded.
The next morning, I drove to Rebecca's restaurant.
The place was closed, its windows dark except for a single light above the counter. I unlocked the door with the spare key she'd given me months earlier.
Rebecca sat at a table near the back.
She looked terrible.
Her hair was unwashed, her eyes swollen, and her hands shook as she poured coffee into two cups.
"You came," she said.
"Tell me about the recording.""
She pushed a flash drive across the table.
"Listen to it.""
I didn't touch it.
"First, tell me why you submitted that insurance application.""
Rebecca stared into her coffee.
"Michael said it was part of the financial restructuring. He told me that if something happened to David, the insurance proceeds would clear the outstanding debt and protect the properties.""
"If something happened to David?""
"That's how he explained it.""
I felt sick.
"Did you believe him?""
"I didn't ask questions.""
I almost laughed.
Neither had I.
Rebecca looked up.
"Sarah, I know what I've done. I know I helped him. But I never wanted anyone hurt.""
"You submitted a false beneficiary application.""
"I know.""
"You helped transfer David's property.""
"I know!""
Her voice cracked.
She covered her face.
"I was desperate. The restaurant was failing, and I was about to lose everything. Michael promised he'd save it.""
"By stealing from us?""
"He said the money would be replaced before anyone noticed.""
I looked at the flash drive.
"What is on it?""
"A recording of David meeting Grant Holloway six months ago.""
My stomach tightened.
"Where was it recorded?""
"In Grant's office. Michael said he obtained it legally.""
"Why would David meet Grant?""
"Because of the property dispute. Michael told me David agreed to the transfer.""
I shook my head.
"David says he never authorized it.""
Rebecca slid a folded sheet of paper across the table.
"This is a transcript of part of the recording.""
I opened it.
The conversation began with Grant asking David whether he understood the risks of the proposed arrangement.
David's recorded voice answered, "I understand that the property may be transferred temporarily.""
My hands went cold.
Grant continued, "And you agree that Northstar can use the building as collateral?""
David replied, "If the terms are what we discussed.""
I stared at the page.
It sounded exactly like him.
"What happened after this?"" I asked.
Rebecca shook her head.
"That's all Michael showed me.""
"Why?""
"He said it proved David knew about the transfer.""
I looked at the final line of the transcript.
Grant had asked, "And if the financing fails?""
The answer was written beneath it.
David's voice:
"Then the property returns to my ownership.""
I looked up.
"That doesn't sound like David agreed to sell the building.""
"Michael said the rest of the recording proved otherwise.""
"Then where is the rest?""
Rebecca hesitated.
"I don't know.""
I pushed the transcript away.
"You're lying.""
"I'm not!""
"You know something.""
She stood abruptly, knocking her chair backward.
"Fine! I know Michael has the original recording. I know he plans to use it to make David look guilty. And I know Grant has been helping him since before your father-in-law died.""
I stared at her.
"My father-in-law?""
Rebecca looked away.
"Michael told me Grant had been handling the estate for years. He said your husband's father had made an arrangement before he died.""
"What arrangement?""
"I don't know.""
I stepped closer.
"Rebecca, if you know anything else, now is the time to tell me.""
She swallowed.
Then she said, "There's another property.""
I froze.
"What?""
"Your husband's father owned a small parcel of land outside the city. It wasn't listed in the will because it was held through a private trust.""
I'd never heard of it.
"Where is it?""
"I don't know the exact address. Michael said it was worth more than the rental building.""
"How did he know about it?""
"Grant told him.""
I sat down slowly.
My husband had inherited a property he didn't know existed, and the people around us had apparently been planning how to take it.
"Why are you telling me this now?""
Rebecca's eyes filled with tears.
"Because Michael told me last night that if the bank freezes the transactions, he'll blame everything on you and me. He said he'd produce the recording and claim we planned the entire scheme.""
I stared at her.
"You did plan part of it.""
"I know.""
Her voice broke.
"But I didn't know he'd go this far.""
For the first time, I believed she was frightened.
That didn't make her innocent.
It only made her another person who had chosen greed and desperation over the people who trusted her.
I picked up the flash drive.
"I'm taking this to the investigator.""
Rebecca grabbed my wrist.
"Wait.""
I pulled away.
"What now?""
She looked toward the front windows.
"Michael is watching the restaurant.""
My heart lurched.
"What?""
"His car has been parked across the street for twenty minutes.""
I moved toward the window and peered through the blinds.
A black SUV sat beneath a streetlight.
The driver's face was hidden behind the windshield.
My phone buzzed.
A message from an unknown number appeared.
*Leave the flash drive on the table and walk out.*
I looked at Rebecca.
She had gone pale.
Another message arrived.
*Or David's recording goes public before breakfast.*
Then my phone rang.
David.
I answered immediately.
"Where are you?"" he asked.
"At Rebecca's restaurant.""
"Get out of there. Now.""
"Why?""
"The investigator just called. They've recovered part of the original loan file, and there's something in it we need to see.""
"What?""
David's voice dropped.
"An audio file was submitted with the property transfer. It appears to show me authorizing the sale.""
I gripped the phone.
"Rebecca has a recording, too.""
Silence.
Then David said, "Sarah, listen to me. Whatever you hear on that recording, don't assume you understand the whole conversation.""
"Why?""
He took a shaky breath.
"Because I remember meeting Grant that day.""
I stared at the flash drive in my hand.
"What happened?""
David's voice broke.
"I went there to stop the transfer. But before I could leave, Grant showed me a document that made me realize my father had been keeping a secret from both of us.""
"What secret?""
He didn't answer immediately.
May you like
Then he said the words that turned my blood to ice.
"My father had borrowed money against the rental property before he died. And according to the documents Grant showed me, *I had already inherited the debt.*"
