Chapter 5: What Natalie Didn't Know
Michael called eleven times before midnight.
I know because Diana's assistant kept a log — I had forwarded my calls to the office line so there would be a record.
Each one went to voicemail.
He left messages on the first three and went silent after that.
I slept on a cot in the back room of Diana's office.
She offered a hotel.
I said no.
I didn't want to be somewhere Michael could find me, and I didn't trust that he didn't have eyes on my credit cards yet.
In the morning, Diana had coffee waiting and a revised document stack two inches thick.
"The registered agent dispute is ready to file," she said.
"But before we do, I want you to look at something."
She slid a bank statement across the table.
The account name at the top read MORGAN-CARTER HOUSEHOLD TRUST.
"I've never heard of this account," I said.
"It was opened eighteen months ago.
Your name, Michael's name, joint trustees.
It currently holds four hundred and twelve thousand dollars."
I set down my coffee.
"Deposits came in monthly," Diana continued.
"Twelve thousand, sometimes fifteen.
The source is a shell company registered in Nevada.
That shell company's only listed asset is a licensing agreement with Carter Freight."
"He was paying himself through me."
"Through both of you, on paper.
Which means those deposits are joint marital income.
Which means, in a divorce proceeding, that account is fully in play."
I thought about Natalie in my bathrobe.
The pregnancy test held up like a flag.
"Does Natalie know about this account?" I asked.
Diana almost smiled.
"That is exactly the right question.
Based on the timeline, Michael began transferring smaller amounts out of this account and into a separate personal account approximately four months ago.
The personal account has one name on it.
His."
"He was already moving money away from me."
"And away from her," Diana said.
"Whatever Michael promised Natalie, he was quietly building an exit that didn't include either of you."
I sat with that for a moment.
There was a knock at the office door.
Diana's assistant leaned in.
"Ms.
Reyes?
There's a woman here.
She says her name is Natalie Brennan.
She says she needs to speak with Rachel Morgan."
Diana looked at me.
I looked at the door.
"Send her in," I said.
Natalie looked nothing like she had the night before.
The smirk was gone.
She was still wearing the same clothes — she hadn't been home.
Her eyes moved to the documents on the table and then to me.
"I didn't know about the federal thing," she said.
"I want you to know that."
"Sit down, Natalie."
She sat.
She didn't look at Robert, who was standing near the window.
"He told me you were the problem," she said.
"That you were controlling the assets, refusing to sign, holding the family hostage.
He said once you signed the transfer, everything would be clean.
The company would be restructured, the debts cleared, and we'd—" She stopped.
"And you'd what?" I asked.
She pressed her lips together.
"He said we'd start fresh.
That the baby would have everything."
"He's been moving money out of a joint account for four months," I said.
"Into an account with only his name."
Natalie went very still.
"Show her," I said to Diana.
Diana slid the bank statement across the table.
Natalie stared at it.
Her hand came up and covered her mouth.
"He told me you were the one draining the accounts," she said quietly.
"He told you what he needed you to believe," I said.
"The same way he told me those documents were tax filings."
The room was quiet for a long moment.
"I'm not your enemy, Natalie," I said.
"But I need to know everything he told you.
Every conversation.
Every promise.
Every document he asked you to witness or hold or sign."
She looked up.
Her eyes were wet.
"There's a storage unit," she said.
"He has a storage unit in Tempe.
He told me it was business files.
But last month I drove past it and the lock had been changed.
He didn't tell me he changed it."
Robert straightened near the window.
"Do you have the address?" Diana asked.
Natalie nodded.
I picked up my coffee.
May you like
It had gone cold.
"Write it down," I said.
