She looked to be in her late forties.
Her dark hair was pulled into a tight bun, and she held a sealed folder against her chest with both hands.
Daniel went pale.
I recognized her from the forensic accountant’s photographs.
Her name was Denise Alvarez, a mobile notary whose stamp appeared on the credit agreement.
After she was sworn in, Margaret approached the witness stand.
“Ms.
Alvarez, did you notarize a home-equity credit agreement for Daniel and Emma Reeves?”
Denise swallowed.
“Yes.”
“Was Emma Reeves present?”
“No.”
A murmur moved through the benches behind us.
Daniel’s mother stopped clutching her handbag.
Margaret continued.
“Why did you notarize the document?”
Denise looked toward Daniel and quickly looked away.
“Mr.
Reeves said his wife had signed it before leaving for Chicago.
He showed me a copy of her driver’s license and said the bank needed the paperwork that day.”
“Did you watch Mrs.
Reeves sign?”
“No.”
“Did you speak with her by telephone or video?”
“No.”
“Did Mr.
Reeves offer you anything?”
Charles rose.
“Objection.”
“Overruled,” the judge said.
Denise’s fingers tightened around the edge of the witness stand.
“He paid me five thousand dollars through his company.”
The courtroom became completely still.
Margaret placed a bank record on the evidence display.
A transfer from DR Capital Holdings to Denise’s consulting company appeared on the screen, dated one day after the loan documents were notarized.
“What did Mr.
Reeves say about his wife discovering the loan?” Margaret asked.
Denise’s eyes filled with shame.
“He said she never looked at the finances.
He said she signed whatever he placed in front of her, and even if she found out, she would be too afraid to challenge him.”
I felt Margaret glance at me, but I kept my eyes on Daniel.
For twelve years, he had treated my trust as proof that I was incapable of understanding him.
He mistook the fact that I loved our family for evidence that I would tolerate anything to preserve its appearance.
The judge called a recess and ordered that no property transfer be recorded until the court reviewed the alleged fraud.
Daniel followed me into the hallway before the court officer stepped between us.
“You set me up,” he hissed.
“I didn’t take out the loan.”
“You agreed to give me the house.”
“I agreed to give you what you demanded.”
His eyes flashed.
“You knew it was in default.”
“You knew it was in default too.”
For the first time since he had asked for a divorce, Daniel had no cruel answer ready.
Margaret guided me toward a private conference room.
Ethan was not at the courthouse.
