Chapter 5: Patricia's Name on the Paper
Diane Marsh picked up on the second ring.
It was past nine in the evening.
She picked up anyway.
"I got your envelope this afternoon," she said before I could speak.
"I've already gone through half of it.
Skylar, some of this is very serious."
"It gets worse," I said.
I told her everything Renata had said.
Diane listened without interrupting.
I heard her pen moving.
When I finished, she was quiet for three seconds.
"The fraudulent medical declaration alone is a crjme.
If he used a suspended license to activate a policy, that's insurance fraud.
If your name is on an account you didn't authorize, that's identity fraud.
And if he was siphoning money from that account into the policy premiums—"
"Can they arrest him?"
"Not tonight.
But I'm calling the fraud division first thing tomorrow.
I'm also calling the insurance company's compliance office." A pause.
"I need Renata's contact information."
I gave it to her.
"What about Patricia?" I asked.
Diane was quiet again.
"That depends on how involved she was.
Do you have any evidence she knew?"
I thought about Derek's silence when Suzanne had said her name.
Does Patricia know?
"Not yet," I said.
"But I think I know how to find out."
I ended the call and sat for a moment.
Then I got out of the car and walked to Officer Reyes.
"I need to go back inside," I said.
"And I need you both with me."
Derek and Suzanne were still there.
I could hear the television on when Officer Reyes knocked.
Derek opened the door.
He was holding a glass of water.
His expression when he saw me was not surprise.
It was calculation.
"You came back," he said.
"This is still my apartment," I said.
"You need to leave."
"We're not going anywhere." He glanced at the officers.
"She's my wife.
I have every right—"
"Sir." Officer Reyes stepped forward.
"The deed to this property is in her name alone.
You are being asked to vacate.
If you don't, we will remove you."
Suzanne appeared behind Derek.
She had my old photo albums in her arms.
She had been going through the shelves.
"Put those down," I said.
She looked at Derek.
He gave a small nod.
She set them on the couch.
"You think this is over?" Derek said.
His voice was very calm.
"You filed a police report.
Fine.
I'll file one too.
I'll say you provoked me.
I'll say you've been stealing from our joint account for months.
I have documentation."
"So do I," I said.
"Mine goes back three years."
Something moved behind his eyes.
"And Derek?" I kept my voice steady.
"I know about the policy.
I know about the doctor's license.
I know about the account you opened in my name." I watched his face.
"I know about all of it."
The glass in his hand tilted slightly.
Water ran over his fingers.
He didn't notice.
Suzanne looked at her brother.
"Derek—"
"Don't," he said.
To me, not to her.
"You have thirty minutes to take what belongs to you and go," I said.
"After that, my attorney handles everything."
He stared at me for a long moment.
Then he set the glass down on the counter, very carefully, and went to get his jacket.
Suzanne didn't move.
She was looking at me like she was trying to understand when I had become someone she didn't recognize.
I picked up my photo albums from the couch and carried them to the bedroom.
Behind me, I heard Derek's phone ring.
He answered it in a low voice.
May you like
I caught one word before he moved away.
"Mom."
