Chapter 8: Diane Marsh
Diane Marsh's office was on the fourth floor of a building downtown, and it looked exactly like the office of someone who had heard every version of every story and was not surprised by any of them.
She was in her late fifties, compact and direct, with reading glasses pushed up on her head and a legal pad already open when Amanda and Sophie walked in.
"Sit down," she said.
"Tell me everything from the beginning.
Don't edit."
Amanda told her everything.
Diane wrote without looking up.
When Amanda finished, Diane set down her pen and looked at her for a long moment.
"The notary detail is significant," she said.
"If Warren Cole was there as a planned witness, Ryan wasn't improvising.
He had a structured plan to execute a legal marriage, collect the notarized documentation, and file it before the month's end."
"Would it have worked?" Amanda asked.
"If the wedding had gone through?"
"Temporarily.
The marriage would have been recorded.
The estate condition would appear satisfied.
Ryan would have received the inheritance." Diane paused.
"The fraud would likely have been discovered eventually — Melissa's marriage is on record, the bigamy is provable — but by then the money could have been moved."
Sophie said, "He would have taken the money and disappeared?"
"Not necessarily disappeared.
But restructured his exposure significantly." Diane looked at her notes.
"The threatening message is useful.
It establishes a pattern of intimidation after the fact.
Combined with the recording Claire made and the photographic evidence, you have a strong foundation."
"What are my options?" Amanda asked.
"Several." Diane turned a page.
"First, you can file a report with the district attorney's office.
Attempted bigamy is a criminal matter in this state.
The fraud against the estate is a separate civil matter that the estate's trustee — or Gerald, acting on the estate's behalf — may pursue independently."
"And if I don't want to go criminal?"
Diane looked at her steadily.
"That's your right.
But I'd encourage you to think about Melissa.
She has a son with this man.
She has seven years of legal marriage and no divorce filing.
Whatever Ryan does next, he will do it to someone.
The question is whether you want to be part of stopping it."
The room was quiet.
Sophie looked at her mother.
Amanda looked at the legal pad.
"What about the message?" Sophie asked.
"Is that enough to get a restraining order?"
"It's a starting point.
One message is thin.
If he contacts her again, or if he approaches her in person, it becomes much stronger." Diane made a note.
"I'd recommend documenting every contact from this point forward.
Screenshot, timestamp, save."
Amanda nodded.
"There's one more thing," Diane said.
She set down her pen.
"Gerald mentioned the envelope in the photograph.
The notary being present suggests Ryan had already prepared the marriage documentation — the license, the witness forms.
Which means he had a marriage license."
Amanda frowned.
"He applied for one."
"Yes.
Which requires both parties to appear in person in most jurisdictions, or submit documentation." Diane's voice was careful.
"Did you sign anything in the weeks before the wedding?
Any forms, any documents he asked you to review?"
Amanda thought back.
"He had me sign a venue contract," she said slowly.
"And something he said was a joint financial disclosure — he said it was required by the venue's event insurance."
Diane's expression didn't change.
But she picked up her pen again.
"Do you have a copy of that document?"
"He said he'd send it to me.
He never did."
Diane wrote something down.
"I'd like you to request it from him in writing — by text or email, so there's a record.
Today if possible."
"Why?"
"Because if that document was not what he told you it was," Diane said, "we may have a much larger problem than attempted bigamy."
Sophie reached under the table and found her mother's hand.
May you like
Amanda squeezed it once.
Then she picked up her phone.
