Chapter 3 - THE HOUSE THAT NEVER BELONGED TO THEM
At seven the following morning, Madison received a call from a woman named Rebecca Sloan.
Rebecca introduced herself as an attorney specializing in property and financial fraud.
“I represent someone who has information concerning Everett Cross,” she explained.
Madison sat upright in bed.
“Who?”
“I'd prefer to explain that in person.”
“Why?”
“Because the documents I have are not something I want discussed over an unsecured phone line.”
Madison almost laughed.
Three years earlier, she would have considered such a statement unnecessarily dramatic.
Now she knew better.
They arranged to meet at a coffee shop in downtown Austin.
Rebecca was in her early forties, with short brown hair and a leather folder tucked beneath one arm.
She didn't waste time.
“First, congratulations on not getting married yesterday.”
Madison blinked.
“That's an unusual greeting.”
“Unfortunately, it's the most appropriate one I can offer.”
Rebecca opened the folder.
Inside were copies of property records, loan documents, and financial statements.
“Do you recognize this address?”
She pushed a photograph across the table.
It showed a beautiful limestone house with a wide porch and mature oak trees.
Madison's stomach tightened.
Their dream house.
The one Everett had shown her six months earlier.
“The property was supposed to be ours.”
Rebecca nodded.
“Except it was never purchased for the two of you.”
She showed Madison a deed.
The property had been purchased through a company registered under Camille Porter's name.
Madison studied the document.
“Why?”
“Because Everett arranged the financing through a private investment company. Your savings account was listed as collateral.”
“But the money was never transferred to Camille directly.”
“Correct. The collateral was used to secure a larger credit facility.”
Rebecca placed another document on the table.
The loan was for $310,000.
Madison's eyes widened.
“Three hundred and ten thousand?”
“The photography studio was only one part of the transaction. The property, renovation costs, and several other expenses were included.”
“Who approved this?”
Rebecca pointed to a signature.
Madison recognized it.
Her own.
Except she had never signed the document.
“That isn't my signature.”
Rebecca nodded.
“We suspected that.”
She opened a second folder.
A comparison of Madison's genuine signatures and the disputed one appeared on the page.
“They used an electronic authorization connected to an old financial document you signed when you and Everett opened the joint house account.”
Madison felt sick.
“What exactly did I authorize?”
“Nothing of this size. The document was altered after submission.”
“Can you prove that?”
“That's why I'm here.”
Rebecca explained that a bank employee had flagged inconsistencies in the transaction several weeks earlier.
An internal review had begun.
Everett had been contacted.
He claimed Madison had approved everything.
“He said we were engaged and planning to combine our assets,” Rebecca explained.
Madison stared at her.
“He knew I never agreed.”
“That's what the evidence suggests.”
She took a breath.
“There is something else.”
Rebecca placed a final document on the table.
A copy of a trust distribution agreement.
The Cross Family Trust had originally been established by Everett's grandfather.
Its assets included commercial property, investment accounts, and a charitable foundation.
Everett's mother, Joanne, had been one of the trustees.
Madison scanned the page.
A name appeared beside a proposed beneficiary transfer.
Camille Porter.
“What does she have to do with the trust?”
Rebecca folded her hands.
“Everett attempted to move a substantial portion of the trust's assets into a private business arrangement. The transfer required approval from the other trustee.”
“Who?”
“His uncle, Richard Cross.”
Madison remembered the name.
Richard was the quiet member of the family who rarely attended social events.
He had been absent from the wedding.
“Did he approve?”
“No.”
“Then how did the money move?”
Rebecca looked directly at her.
“That's what we're investigating.”
Madison leaned back.
The world seemed to have become a series of doors, each opening into another room full of lies.
“Why are you telling me all this?”
Rebecca hesitated.
“Because someone believes Everett used your relationship to create the appearance of a legitimate financial partnership.”
Madison's throat tightened.
“So I was supposed to become his wife, and then what? Help him cover everything?”
“We don't know the full plan yet.”
Madison stood.
“I need to call the police.”
“Not before we secure the original documents.”
Rebecca closed the folder.
“And one more thing. Camille has requested a meeting with you.”
Madison almost laughed.
“Absolutely not.”
“She claims she has evidence against Everett.”
“Then she can give it to you.”
“She insists you are the only person she trusts.”
Madison picked up her purse.
“That's unfortunate.”
She walked toward the door.
Her phone rang.
Everett.
She declined the call.
A text arrived immediately.
Everett: We need to stop making this worse. My mother is furious. Camille is devastated. Just come home and we'll work it out.
Madison stared at the words.
Home.
He was still calling the house they had shared for four years her home.
Then another message appeared.
Everett: I know you took the USB. Give it back.
Madison froze.
She had never told him about the USB.
She called Rebecca.
“There's a problem.”
“What happened?”
“He knows about the recording.”
Rebecca's expression hardened.
“Then we need to move quickly.”
Madison opened her banking application.
A notification appeared.
New account access request.
Someone had attempted to reset the password on her personal savings account.
The request had been submitted using Everett's email address.
And beneath it was a second notification.
Security alert: New device successfully authenticated.
May you like
Madison stared at the screen.
Someone had already gotten in.
