Chapter 10: The Things That Cannot Be Returned
Three weeks passed.
Grace called on a Tuesday morning while Cameron was in a meeting.
He stepped into the hallway, the same hallway outside the same conference room where he had spoken to Detective Carver.
"They executed the warrant on Logan's financial records yesterday," Grace said.
"His attorneys tried to delay it.
The judge denied the motion in about four minutes."
"Did they get everything?"
"Everything.
Personal accounts, business accounts, the retainer account he used to pay Pruitt's notary.
Webb's team found two additional transfers we hadn't identified — both routed through a real estate escrow account in Holt's name." A pause.
"Cameron, the total amount moved across all six shell companies is just over $1.1 million.
Across all victims."
He looked through the glass at his colleagues inside.
"How many victims total?"
"Seven confirmed.
Possibly nine.
Webb is still working through the Holt accounts."
"The Hendersons in Savannah."
"Included in the seven.
Their case is now part of the federal filing."
"When will charges be filed?"
"Webb says end of the week.
Logan's attorneys have been in contact with the AG's office every day.
They're trying to negotiate the federal counts down.
Webb isn't moving."
"Good."
"Natalie should know before it becomes public.
The AG's office will issue a press release when the charges are filed.
Her name will appear in it as a victim and a cooperating witness."
"I'll tell her tonight."
"How is she?"
Cameron looked through the glass again.
"Working," he said.
"She went back to her office last week.
She's been quiet."
"Quiet isn't always bad."
"No," he said.
"It isn't."
He ended the call and went back into the meeting.
That evening, he told Natalie over dinner.
She listened without interrupting.
When he finished, she set down her fork and looked at the table for a moment.
"Seven families," she said.
"At least."
"And I was the one he used to access the Atlanta network.
My name.
My connections.
My account."
"Yes."
She was quiet for a moment.
"I want to write to the other victims," she said.
"Not through lawyers.
Personally.
I want them to know that I didn't know.
That I'm sorry they were pulled into something that used my name without my knowledge."
"Grace can help you draft something appropriate."
"I don't want it drafted.
I want to write it myself."
Cameron looked at her.
"Okay," he said.
She picked up her fork again.
"I called Melissa today," she said.
"How is she?"
"Angry at herself.
She thinks she should have pushed harder six months ago when she first tried to tell me."
"She tried.
You weren't ready to hear it."
"I know that.
I told her that." Natalie looked up.
"She's been a good friend.
A better one than I understood."
The charges were filed on Friday.
Logan Pierce: wire fraud, identity theft, forgery, conspiracy to commit financial fraud.
Four federal counts, three state counts.
Darnell Pruitt: wire fraud, conspiracy, money laundering, operating a fraudulent investment scheme.
Six federal counts, five state counts.
Warren Holt: wire fraud, conspiracy, money laundering.
Three federal counts, two state counts.
The AG's press release named seven victims.
It described Natalie Blake as a victim whose identity had been used without her knowledge or consent, and as a cooperating witness whose documentation had been instrumental in building the case.
Logan's photograph appeared in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Saturday morning.
Natalie saw it at the kitchen table with her coffee.
She looked at it for a moment — the same face, the same composed expression he had worn at the party — and then she turned the page.
May you like
She didn't read the article.
She didn't need to.
