Chapter 8: The Evidence That Ended It
The fraud investigator's name was Agent Colleen Farris.
She called me four days later, on a Tuesday morning, while I was eating breakfast at the small table by the window in Mrs.
Calloway's guest room, where I had been staying since Diane's warning.
"Ms.
Skylar," she said.
"We've completed our preliminary review.
I'd like to meet with you in person."
We met at Diane's office that afternoon.
Agent Farris was a compact woman in her fifties with reading glasses pushed up on her forehead and a manila folder that she set on the table without opening immediately.
"We pulled Derek Holt's full client history going back six years," she said.
"The Patricia Holt policy is not the first irregular filing we found."
Diane leaned forward.
"How many?"
"Three others.
Two former clients, one deceased.
In each case, the beneficiary was either Suzanne Holt or a shell account that traces back to her." Agent Farris opened the folder.
"The deceased client's family has been notified.
They're filing a separate civil claim."
I looked at the papers.
Names I didn't know.
People Derek had smiled at, pressed suits and all, and quietly arranged.
"What about the account opened in my name?" I asked.
"Confirmed fraudulent.
We have the application.
It was submitted online using your Social Security number and a scanned copy of your driver's license." She paused.
"We believe the scan came from a document Derek photographed at home.
Possibly your license when it was in your bag."
"When was the account opened?"
"Fourteen months ago."
Fourteen months.
I had been making him coffee every morning for fourteen months while my name was being used to fund his sister's future.
"Derek's attorney contacted us this morning," Agent Farris continued.
"He's asking about cooperation terms."
"He wants a deal," Diane said.
"He wants to minimize exposure.
We're not in a position to offer much.
The evidence is substantial." Agent Farris looked at me.
"I want you to know — the domestic incident report, combined with the financial fraud, and the recorded extortion attempt, puts him in a very difficult position.
His attorney knows it."
"What happens now?" I asked.
"We execute a warrant for his financial records by end of week.
His employer has already been notified — the insurance company launched their own internal investigation yesterday.
He's been suspended pending review." She closed the folder.
"Formal charges will follow the warrant.
I expect within two to three weeks."
Diane walked Agent Farris out.
I stayed at the table.
Through the office window I could see the street below.
People moving, cars passing, the ordinary afternoon continuing without any awareness of what had just been laid out on that table.
Diane came back in and sat across from me.
"It's done," she said.
"Not yet," I said.
"No.
But the direction is set." She folded her hands.
"How are you?"
I thought about the question.
"I keep thinking about the morning it happened," I said.
"I almost lied to the nurse.
I almost said it was an accident." I looked at the window.
"If I had—"
"You didn't," Diane said.
May you like
"No." I picked up my bag.
"I didn't."
