Chapter 6 - The Trap Collapses
Daniel walked into the living room, carrying two glasses of water. He set one down in front of Brenda and sat beside me on the couch.
"Mrs. Finch," Daniel said professionally. "Forging a signature on a loan document is a federal financial crime."
"I know!" Brenda wept, looking at Daniel with desperate eyes. "The bank sent a default notice to my father’s house yesterday! If Gavin doesn't pay twelve hundred thousand dollars by Friday, they are seizing my parents' home and filing criminal charges against me as a co-signer!"
I looked at the forged loan documents inside the folder. Gavin’s handwriting was unmistakable on the signature line, attempting to mimic Brenda’s cursive.
"Why didn't Gavin ask his own family for help?" I asked.
"His family broke ties with him two years ago after he tried to scam his brother out of his inheritance," Brenda revealed, wiping her nose with a tissue. "He has no one left, Nora. He’s trapped. And now he’s planning to liquidate the remaining company vehicles tonight and flee to Mexico before the bank realizes the assets are gone!"
Daniel’s eyes sharpened. "Liquidate the fleet? That’s grand larceny under corporate bankruptcy law."
"He’s meeting a black-market buyer at his warehouse in Mobile at nine o'clock tonight," Brenda confessed, her shoulders shaking with fear. "He told me to pack my bags, but I can't do this. I won't go to prison for him!"
Daniel looked at me, then back at Brenda. "Do you have the bill of sale documents he prepared for tonight?"
Brenda pulled a flash drive from her purse and handed it to Daniel. "Everything is on here. Please... just protect my parents' house. Gavin ruined your marriage, Nora, and now he’s destroying my entire life."
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I looked at Brenda—the woman who had sat in my kitchen five years ago—and realized I felt no hatred toward her. Only profound pity. Gavin was a parasite who destroyed every life he touched.
"Daniel," I said softly. "Call the State Financial Crimes Division."
