Chapter 8: The Other Woman Speaks
Her name was Renata Voss.
She was thirty-four, a graphic designer, and she had been with Ethan since four months after our wedding.
Her attorney's name was Carol Marsh.
I knew the firm.
They handled civil disputes and, occasionally, cases involving fraud.
Daniel and I met with Carol at his office on Wednesday morning.
Renata was not present.
Carol set a folder on the conference table and folded her hands over it.
"My client wishes to resolve this matter without litigation," Carol said.
"That's a reasonable starting point," Daniel said.
"She filed a false affidavit."
"My client was told by Mr.
Calloway that the property was jointly owned and that his wife had agreed to the petition.
She was misled."
Daniel looked at me.
I kept my face still.
"She signed a sworn statement," Daniel said.
"Regardless of what she was told, she is responsible for the content of that statement."
"My client acknowledges that.
She is prepared to file a full withdrawal and a written correction with the courthouse." Carol opened the folder.
"In exchange, she asks that your client not pursue the perjury exposure."
"What else?" I said.
Carol looked at me.
"I'm sorry?"
"There's something else.
You wouldn't be here in person for a simple withdrawal."
A beat.
Carol looked at Daniel, then back at me.
"My client has documentation," Carol said carefully.
"Communications between herself and Mr.
Calloway going back fourteen months.
Some of those communications relate directly to the property, to the petition, and to the plan to — her words — establish a basis for ownership before your client became aware of it."
The room was very quiet.
"He planned this," I said.
Not a question.
"The communications suggest the petition was not a spontaneous decision.
There was a strategy discussed over several months.
My client was told she would be listed as a resident of the property to strengthen the claim.
She was told your client would likely settle rather than litigate."
Daniel's pen was moving steadily.
"He told her I would settle," I said.
"Yes."
"Because he believed I wouldn't want the attention."
Carol said nothing.
Which was its own answer.
I looked at the folder on the table.
"What does your client want in exchange for those communications?"
"The perjury exposure dropped.
Nothing further."
"She wants to hand over evidence against the man she's been with for fourteen months," I said.
"Why?"
Carol was quiet for a moment.
"Because he told her, three days ago, that she had misunderstood the nature of their relationship.
And that if this became a legal matter, he would testify that she approached him, that the affidavit was her idea, and that he had signed under pressure."
The gray jacket.
The careful eyes.
The man who said *I'm not going to lose everything.*
"He turned on her," I said.
"The moment the petition was challenged," Carol said, "yes."
I looked at Daniel.
May you like
He looked back at me.
"Tell your client," I said, "that we accept."
