Chapter 7 - The First Crack
I called an old friend from college.
Special Agent Rebecca Sloan had spent twelve years investigating financial crimes.
I had not spoken to her in almost two years.
When I explained what I had found, she did not interrupt.
When I finished, she said one thing.
“Do not confront Claire.”
I almost laughed.
“You and Mara should start a club.”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
Rebecca asked me to photograph the documents.
She wanted names.
Dates.
Account numbers.
Phone records.
Most importantly, she wanted proof of intent.
“People say terrible things during private conversations.”
“She said I wouldn’t be a problem after Friday.”
“That matters.”
“But unless we know what she intends to do, her attorney can interpret it ten different ways.”
I hated that she was right.
Rebecca checked Northstar Strategic Holdings.
Within an hour, she called back.
“You have a bigger problem.”
“What?”
“Northstar connects to three shell companies.”
“And?”
“One of them purchased a two-million-dollar life insurance policy six months before a businessman in Arizona died.”
My mouth went dry.
“What businessman?”
“Thomas Weller.”
I knew the name.
He had been Claire’s employer before we married.
He died in a boating accident.
Rebecca continued.
“His widow received the insurance payout.”
“Claire wasn’t his widow.”
“No.”
“But she was a beneficiary through a consulting company.”
I sat down slowly.
“How much?”
“Four hundred thousand dollars.”
I closed my eyes.
Claire had told me Thomas was like a father to her.
She cried at his funeral.
She had spent two days unable to leave bed.
Rebecca’s next words hurt more.
“Daniel, I need you to consider that your marriage may have been part of this from the beginning.”
I did not answer.
I thought about our first date.
Our wedding.
The first pregnancy.
The night our first son died.
Claire sobbing in my arms.
Claire holding my hand during the funeral.
A terrible thought entered my mind.
“Rebecca.”
“Yes?”
“My first son.”
Silence.
“What about him?”
“He died unexpectedly.”
May you like
Rebecca did not speak for several seconds.
Then she said, “Get me his medical records.”
