Chapter 10: The Morning Everything Became Official
Rebecca filed the fraud complaint on a Thursday.
By Friday afternoon, the county recorder's office had flagged the lien for review.
By the following Tuesday, a detective named Okafor from the financial crimes unit called my cell phone and asked if I could come in to provide a formal statement.
I sat across from Detective Okafor in a small room with a recording device on the table between us.
I brought the USB drive, the printed records, and a copy of Garrett's written assessment.
Okafor asked careful, methodical questions for ninety minutes.
He had the kind of stillness that made you want to be precise.
At the end he said, "Mr.
Calloway, I want to be straightforward with you.
Based on what you've provided, we have sufficient grounds to open a formal investigation into Derek Allman for deed fraud and identity theft.
Whether additional charges follow will depend on what the financial audit turns up."
"What kind of additional charges?" I asked.
"If other properties were secured using similar methods, we may be looking at a pattern.
That changes the severity considerably."
I drove to Martinez's house afterward.
He was in his garage working on his truck.
I sat on a folding chair and told him what Okafor had said.
"A pattern," Martinez said.
He set down his wrench.
"So your house might not be the only one."
"That's what he's looking at."
Martinez was quiet for a moment.
"How are you doing with all of it?"
I thought about it honestly.
"I'm okay.
I'm more okay than I expected to be."
"Because of the legal stuff?"
"Because I know what I'm dealing with now." I looked at the garage floor.
"The worst part wasn't finding out.
The worst part was the four months before I found out, when I was over there thinking everything was fine."
He nodded.
He understood that without needing it explained.
Three weeks later, Rebecca called me while I was in a meeting with a veterans' employment counselor I had contacted about transitioning out of active duty.
I stepped into the hallway.
"They executed the warrant this morning," she said.
"Derek Allman's business records, his personal accounts, and the company server."
"Did they find anything?"
"Grace is still going through what the detective shared with us, but early indications are that your property was one of at least four used as collateral without the owners' knowledge." She paused.
"He's been formally arrested and charged with four counts of deed fraud and two counts of identity theft.
His attorney has already requested a continuance."
I looked through the glass at the counselor waiting inside.
"What about Kendra?" I said.
"She cooperated fully with the investigation.
Her attorney negotiated an immunity agreement in exchange for her testimony.
She won't face criminal charges."
"Good," I said.
And I meant it.
"The civil side is separate," Rebecca said.
"The lien will be vacated once the criminal proceedings are complete.
You'll have full clear title restored."
"And the twenty-three thousand?"
"That's part of the divorce settlement negotiation.
We have a strong position.
I don't anticipate a fight."
I looked through the glass again.
The counselor was checking his phone.
"Rebecca," I said.
"Is it done?"
A brief pause.
"The criminal part is in motion," she said.
"The rest takes a little longer.
But Olivia — the part that was done to you without your knowledge?
May you like
That part is done."
I thanked her and went back inside.
