Chapter 10: The Insurance Money That Never Existed
For several seconds, nobody in Mabel's living room spoke.
Martin Reeves held the phone against his ear.
"Michael, I need you to explain exactly what you mean.""
On the other end, Laura's estranged husband took a shaky breath.
"Someone used Arthur's death certificate to file an insurance claim under a policy I didn't know existed.""
Martin frowned.
"Was Arthur the insured person?""
"Yes. But the policy wasn't the one he left for Mabel.""
Dean stepped closer.
"How much money are we talking about?""
Michael answered.
"Four hundred and fifty thousand dollars.""
Mabel grabbed the arm of her chair.
"Four hundred and fifty thousand?""
Martin looked at her.
"Michael, who was listed as the beneficiary?""
"Laura.""
Dean shook his head.
"How many policies did this woman open?""
Michael continued.
"According to the paperwork I found, Laura had obtained a second policy shortly before Arthur died. She used his medical records and a copy of his identification.""
Martin's expression hardened.
"Was Arthur aware of it?""
"No. He was in the hospital. He barely had the strength to sign his own name.""
Mabel covered her mouth.
"She used her father's illness?""
Michael's voice became quieter.
"Yes.""
Martin asked, "Where did the money go?""
"Into a company account. Whitmore Property Holdings.""
Dean looked at Frank.
Frank muttered, "The same company.""
Michael continued.
"Laura told me she inherited the money. She said Arthur had changed his arrangements before he died. I believed her at first.""
"What made you investigate?"" Martin asked.
"I found a letter from Arthur in an old filing cabinet. He had written to my wife asking why she was requesting copies of his medical records.""
Mabel's eyes filled.
"Arthur wrote to Michael?""
"Yes. He was worried. He said Laura had been asking questions about his medication, his insurance, and his financial accounts.""
Martin wrote rapidly.
"Do you still have that letter?""
"I do.""
"Can you bring it to my office?""
"Not yet.""
Martin frowned.
"Why not?""
Michael hesitated.
"Because Laura knows I have it. Yesterday, someone broke into my garage.""
Dean straightened.
"Did they take anything?""
"Only the filing cabinet.""
Martin closed his eyes.
"Michael, you need to contact the police.""
"I already did. They said it looked like an ordinary burglary.""
"Was anything else stolen?""
"No. My tools, television, and motorcycle were untouched.""
Dean exchanged a look with Frank.
"That's not an ordinary burglary.""
Michael continued.
"I copied everything before they came. The documents are in a storage unit under my brother's name.""
Martin nodded.
"Good. Don't go there alone. We'll arrange a meeting.""
Michael paused.
"There's another reason I called.""
"What is it?""
"I want to see Emily.""
The little girl looked up immediately.
Mabel gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
Michael's voice broke.
"Please tell her I never stopped loving her.""
Emily reached for the phone.
"Dad?""
Silence.
Then a man's voice, suddenly full of emotion.
"Emily?""
"Daddy?""
"Oh, sweetheart.""
Emily began crying.
"Mom said you didn't want me.""
Michael made a sound like someone had punched him.
"That's not true. Not for one second.""
"Why didn't you come?""
"I tried, baby. I tried so many times.""
"She said you were dangerous.""
Michael took a shaky breath.
"Emily, I would never hurt you. I need you to know that.""
"Can I see you?""
"Yes. If your grandmother and the lawyers say it's safe, I'll come today.""
Emily wiped her cheeks.
"I miss you.""
"I miss you more than you can imagine.""
Mabel took the phone gently.
"Michael?""
"Yes, Mabel?""
"I'm sorry.""
"For what?""
"For believing what Laura told me about you.""
Michael was silent for a moment.
"She told you things about me, too?""
Mabel nodded, although he couldn't see her.
"She said you abandoned Emily.""
"I left because I discovered what she was doing. When I confronted her, she threatened to accuse me of hurting Emily. I thought staying away temporarily would protect my daughter.""
Mabel closed her eyes.
"She has hurt all of us.""
Michael replied quietly.
"Then it's time someone stopped her.""
Two hours later, Martin arranged for Michael to meet them at a police station conference room.
He arrived carrying a thick folder.
He was forty-five, with tired eyes and a noticeable scar near his chin.
Emily ran to him the moment she saw him.
Michael dropped the folder.
He knelt and wrapped his arms around his daughter.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
Emily buried her face against his shoulder.
"Don't leave again.""
"I won't disappear without explaining anything to you. I promise.""
Mabel watched them embrace.
For the first time, she saw a part of the story Laura had hidden.
Her daughter hadn't only separated a mother from her granddaughter.
She had separated a child from a father who loved her.
When everyone sat down, Michael opened his folder.
"I made copies of everything.""
Martin examined the first document.
It was an insurance application dated six months before Arthur's death.
The policy listed Arthur as the insured person.
Laura was the beneficiary.
A signature appeared at the bottom.
Martin studied it.
"Did Arthur sign this?""
Michael shook his head.
"I compared it with his actual signature. The letters don't match.""
Martin removed the copy of Arthur's final will.
He placed the two signatures side by side.
The difference was obvious.
Dean leaned forward.
"Could a handwriting expert confirm that?""
"Certainly," Martin replied.
Michael produced another document.
"This is the claim approval.""
The insurance company had paid $450,000 into Whitmore Property Holdings.
A bank statement followed.
The money had been divided into several transfers.
One payment went toward a luxury condominium.
Another went to a private investment account.
A third went to a company registered in Patricia Collins's name.
Martin looked at the dates.
"These transactions happened after Arthur died?""
"Within thirty days.""
Mabel stared at the statement.
"She told me the hospital took everything.""
Michael nodded.
"She told me the same thing.""
Dean tapped the page.
"There's more here.""
He pointed to a transfer of $28,000.
The recipient was listed as a medical services company.
Mabel looked confused.
"What's that?""
Michael lowered his voice.
"That's the company Laura used to obtain Arthur's medical records.""
Martin looked up.
"Are you certain?""
"I have the invoice.""
He passed another sheet across the table.
The company had billed Laura for copies of Arthur's medical files, hospital admission records, and medication history.
The invoice was dated three weeks before Arthur died.
Mabel began to shake.
"She was planning this while he was still alive.""
Martin placed the documents in a separate folder.
"These are important. We will need to preserve the originals and provide copies to investigators.""
Michael looked at Dean.
"There's one more thing I haven't told you.""
Dean raised his eyebrows.
"What?""
"Laura called me last night.""
"Why?""
"She offered me fifty thousand dollars.""
Martin looked up sharply.
"For what?""
"To sign a statement saying I had fabricated the insurance documents because I wanted custody of Emily.""
Dean's jaw tightened.
"And you refused?""
Michael nodded.
"Then she told me she'd destroy my life.""
Mabel looked toward her granddaughter.
Emily was sitting quietly beside her.
"Did she say anything about Emily?""
Michael's face hardened.
"She said if I cooperated with the investigation, she'd make sure Emily never saw me again.""
Martin closed his folder.
"That threat may become relevant to the custody proceedings.""
Michael nodded.
Then he reached into his coat and removed a small flash drive.
"I also have a recording.""
Martin took it.
"What's on it?""
"A conversation between Laura and Patricia.""
Dean leaned forward.
"How did you get it?""
"Laura left her old laptop at my house when she moved out. I found the recording in a folder marked TAXES.""
Martin connected the drive to his laptop.
The recording began with the sound of a door closing.
Then Patricia's voice.
"Are you sure the insurance company won't question the signature?""
Laura answered.
"They already approved it.""
"What about Mabel?""
"She doesn't know anything.""
"And Daniel?""
"Daniel will take the blame. I've already arranged everything.""
Patricia laughed nervously.
"What if your father told someone?""
Laura's reply was chilling.
"Then nobody will believe an old man who was dying.""
Mabel slowly turned away.
The recording continued.
Patricia asked, "And the house?""
Laura answered, "Once Mom signs the transfer, everything is mine.""
"She's not going to sign.""
"She will when she understands she has no other choice.""
Dean stopped the recording.
Nobody spoke.
Martin looked at the flash drive.
"This changes everything.""
Michael nodded.
"There's more. The recording continues for another eleven minutes.""
Martin pressed play again.
This time, Patricia asked a question that made Mabel's blood run cold.
"What about the pills?""
Laura answered without hesitation.
"She only needs to take what I give her.""
The recording ended.
Martin immediately copied the file to a secure drive.
Mabel stared at him.
"What did she mean by the pills?""
Martin's face was grave.
"We need to have your medication history reviewed by a physician. We cannot assume what happened, but that conversation is extremely concerning.""
Mabel gripped her wedding ring.
For years, she'd believed Laura was helping her survive.
Now she wondered whether her daughter had been deliberately making her weaker.
Martin gathered the evidence.
"Tomorrow morning, I will submit these documents to the appropriate authorities.""
Dean looked at Michael.
"And what happens now?""
Michael glanced at Emily.
"Now we protect her.""
Just then, Dean's phone rang.
It was Frank.
"Brother, we have a problem.""
"What?""
"Laura's at Mabel's house.""
Dean stood.
"Is she alone?""
"No.""
"Who is with her?""
Frank hesitated.
"Two men in suits. One has a clipboard.""
Dean looked at Martin.
"What's happening?""
May you like
Frank answered before Dean could.
"They're trying to take possession of the house.""
