Chapter 14 - THE HOUSE OF CARDS
Once investigators understood the structure, the numbers changed quickly.
Forty-three thousand dollars became ninety.
Ninety became two hundred.
By the end of the week, more than six hundred thousand dollars in questionable transfers had been identified.
Daniel had built Redwood Family Holdings eighteen months earlier.
He promised investors access to distressed residential properties.
Some properties existed.
Most did not.
He used early investments to create enough visible activity to attract larger money.
When returns came due, he needed new investors.
Then Chloe became pregnant.
Then Jennifer became pregnant.
Then Daniel’s employer suspended his bonus.
Then the system began collapsing.
Jennifer finally understood the desperation.
Daniel had not simply become careless because he believed she was weak.
He had become careless because the clock was running out.
Rachel looked at her.
“The baptism investment from Martin may have been intended to keep Redwood alive another month.”
Jennifer nodded.
“And the $4,500 bill?”
“Daniel probably assumed you would pay because you always handled household expenses.”
Jennifer stared at the folder that had started everything.
Four thousand five hundred dollars.
Compared with the rest, it looked almost trivial.
But if Jennifer had simply paid it, the party might have ended normally.
Guests would have left praising Daniel.
Martin might have believed the investment was safe.
Chloe might not have arrived.
The fraud might have survived weeks longer.
One refusal had broken the performance.
Daniel called again that evening.
This time Rachel advised Jennifer to answer with her on speaker.
Daniel sounded calm.
Too calm.
“Jennifer.”
“What do you need about Lily?”
“This isn’t about Lily.”
“Then speak to Rachel.”
“Please.”
Jennifer said nothing.
He continued.
“I need you to sign something.”
Jennifer almost laughed.
“What?”
“A statement.”
“What statement?”
“That you were aware of Redwood.”
Rachel’s eyes sharpened.
Jennifer asked.
“Why would I sign that?”
“Because you benefited from it.”
“No.”
“The house.”
“The parties.”
“The vacations.”
Jennifer’s voice hardened.
“You’re trying to make me part of your fraud.”
Daniel exhaled.
“I’m trying to protect both of us.”
“There is no both of us.”
“Jennifer, listen.”
“If this becomes criminal, they will examine everything.”
“Let them.”
“You don’t understand how these investigations work.”
Rachel silently shook her head.
Jennifer replied.
“I understand enough not to sign anything you send.”
Daniel’s calm disappeared.
“You think Chloe will save you?”
Jennifer frowned.
“What does Chloe have to do with this?”
“She took money too.”
“She knew.”
Jennifer looked at Rachel.
Daniel continued.
“She’ll turn on you the second investigators pressure her.”
Jennifer said.
“I’m not relying on Chloe.”
A long silence followed.
Then Daniel whispered.
“You should be.”
Jennifer’s skin prickled.
“What does that mean?”
Daniel hung up.
Rachel immediately called Chloe.
No answer.
Again.
No answer.
Jennifer stood.
“Where is she?”
Rachel called Chloe’s attorney.
He had not heard from her since morning.
Jennifer looked toward the photographs from the storage unit.
Daniel had warned her about Chloe.
Not because Chloe was dangerous.
Because Chloe knew too much.
Then Jennifer’s phone buzzed.
A message from Chloe.
I found the original ledger.
May you like
Daniel is outside.
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