Chapter 8: What the Evidence Proved
Six weeks later, Diana called me on a Tuesday afternoon.
"The DA's office accepted the case," she said.
"Both of them."
I was at my desk at work.
I got up and walked into the hallway.
"Both," I said.
"Gertrude is charged with identity theft, forgery, and wire fraud.
Three counts on the forgery alone — one for each loan document.
Brandon is charged with conspiracy to commit fraud and one count of identity theft for the email access during the shared laptop period."
I leaned against the wall.
"What does that mean in terms of outcome?"
"Gertrude is looking at significant exposure.
Her attorney will almost certainly push for a plea.
Brandon's attorney called me this morning.
He wants to discuss cooperation — Brandon providing testimony against Gertrude in exchange for reduced charges."
"Will that work?"
"It depends on what he gives them.
His voicemail to you helped establish his awareness of the plan.
The email access records helped establish the timeline.
If he testifies about Gertrude's role in directing the forgeries, the DA may be willing to reduce his charges to a misdemeanor with probation." She paused.
"Charlotte, that's your call.
If you want to oppose the cooperation agreement, you can."
I thought about it for a moment.
Really thought about it.
Brandon had been weak.
He had let his mother run a plan that used me as raw material.
He had stayed quiet while Skylar ate instant soup in a dark kitchen.
He had called me at midnight and asked me to sign, and when I hadn't, he had left a voicemail that was half apology and half self-preservation.
He was not a good man.
But he was not the architect of this.
"Let him cooperate," I said.
"Are you sure?"
"Gertrude planned it.
She registered the LLC.
She held the pen.
Make sure she answers for all of it."
"She will," Diana said.
"One more thing.
Solverton Residential — the business license was formally denied last week.
The LLC is being dissolved as part of the fraud proceedings.
Any assets held in the company's name are being reviewed for recovery."
"Was there anything in it?"
"About $11,000 in a business account.
Funded by the two smaller loans before the signatures were flagged.
The court will likely order it returned to the lender, but your attorney fees may be recoverable as damages." She paused.
"It's not nothing."
"No," I said.
"It's not nothing."
I went back to my desk.
My colleague across from me, a woman named Priya who had covered for me twice during the worst weeks of this, looked up.
"Everything okay?"
"Yes," I said.
"Actually yes."
She nodded and went back to her screen.
I sat down and opened my work files.
The afternoon light came through the window at a low angle and lay across the desk in a long flat stripe.
May you like
I put my hand in it for a moment, just to feel the warmth.
Then I got back to work.
