Chapter 9: The Friend Who Helped Betray Us
I read the name again.
Edward Collins.
For thirty-two years, Edward had been my business partner.
We had started Bennett-Collins Construction with two rented offices, a secondhand truck, and enough money to cover three months of expenses.
He had been there when Elaine and I struggled to pay our mortgage.
He had stood beside me when my father died.
He had attended Daniel's graduation.
And he had raised a glass at my son's engagement dinner.
I had trusted him.
More than I trusted most people.
"Martin," I said quietly, "are you certain?""
He nodded.
"The lender's correspondence identifies Edward as the person who introduced Celeste to the financing company.""
I stared at the report.
"Why would he do that?""
Martin closed the briefcase.
"That's what we're trying to establish.""
Daniel approached.
"Who is Edward Collins?""
I looked at him.
"My former partner.""
"The man who came to the engagement dinner?""
"Yes.""
Daniel's expression changed.
"Is he involved in this?""
"Apparently.""
He looked toward Vanessa.
"Did you know?""
She shook her head.
"I don't know anyone named Edward.""
I believed she might be telling the truth.
But I wasn't ready to trust anything she said.
I called Edward.
He answered on the second ring.
"Richard! How's the wedding going?""
I closed my eyes.
For a moment, I couldn't speak.
Then I asked:
"Did you introduce Celeste Cole to a private lender?""
Silence.
It lasted only two seconds.
But I knew.
"Richard, where did you hear that?""
"Answer the question.""
Edward sighed.
"Look, I can explain.""
"Did you?""
"I made an introduction. That's all.""
"Did you know they were planning to use my house as collateral?""
His voice changed.
"What?""
"Don't pretend you don't understand.""
"Richard, I had no idea about any property transfer.""
"Then why is your name in the lender's correspondence?""
He paused.
"Because I introduced them to someone who could help.""
"Who?""
"An investment group.""
"Why?""
"Martin Cole was in trouble. He approached me through Celeste. They needed financing.""
I looked toward Elaine.
She was watching me.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
Edward lowered his voice.
"Because I didn't think it concerned you.""
I laughed bitterly.
"My home is listed as collateral. My wife's signature is on a forged document. My son's name is on a loan guarantee. And you didn't think it concerned me?""
"Richard, I never approved any of that.""
"Did you receive money?""
Silence.
I repeated the question.
"Did you receive money from the transaction?""
Edward exhaled.
"Yes.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"How much?""
"Thirty thousand.""
I closed my eyes.
Thirty thousand dollars.
That was almost exactly what I had spent on the additional wedding arrangements Vanessa had demanded.
"What did you do for that money?""
"I made the introduction.""
"Nothing else?""
He hesitated.
"Richard, I have a family. I had expenses. I thought it was a legitimate referral fee.""
"Did you know about the $750,000 loan?""
"Yes.""
"Did you know my property was supposed to secure it?""
"No.""
"Did you know they planned to use my son's inheritance as security?""
He went silent.
Then he said:
"I heard something about the family assets.""
I looked at Martin.
He was listening.
I lowered my voice.
"Edward, you've known me for thirty-two years.""
"I know.""
"You know Elaine.""
"Of course.""
"You know that Vermont house is where we planned to retire.""
"I know, Richard.""
"Then how could you put us in this position?""
His voice became defensive.
"Nobody was trying to steal your house. They were trying to arrange financing. It was supposed to be temporary.""
"With a forged signature?""
"I didn't know about that.""
"With my son's forged signature?""
"I didn't know about that either!""
I stared at the floor.
"Then tell me what you did know.""
Edward sighed.
"Martin Cole told me the family was willing to provide support. Celeste said you were going to transfer the property eventually. She showed me an email.""
I looked at Martin.
"Which email?""
Edward continued.
"It looked like it came from you. It said you wanted Daniel to have a financial foundation.""
I closed my eyes.
The fake email.
The one Vanessa had shown us.
It had been used to convince other people that I had agreed.
I asked Edward one final question.
"Did you verify it?""
He hesitated.
"No.""
I ended the call.
Daniel had heard enough.
"He's involved.""
I nodded.
"He admitted taking thirty thousand dollars.""
Daniel looked horrified.
"From whom?""
"Martin Cole's arrangement.""
He turned away.
"How can so many people be involved in this?""
I didn't answer.
Because I was beginning to understand that the wedding was simply the final stage of a plan that had been developing for months.
Martin stepped toward us.
"Richard, I need to make something clear. Edward's admission doesn't establish that he knew about the forged signatures. We'll need to preserve his messages and financial records.""
"Understood.""
He turned toward Daniel.
"Do you have any copies of documents Vanessa asked you to sign before today?""
Daniel nodded slowly.
"There were several.""
"Where?""
"At our apartment.""
Martin frowned.
"What kind of documents?""
"Some bank forms. A financial disclosure. Something about a future family trust.""
I looked at him.
"Did you sign them?""
Daniel shook his head.
"Not all of them.""
"Which ones?""
"I don't remember.""
Martin's expression became serious.
"Then we need to review every document before you sign or submit anything else.""
Daniel nodded.
I could see the shame in his face.
He had spent months allowing Vanessa to handle his finances because he believed it was part of building a marriage.
Now he was discovering that trust without attention could be dangerous.
An officer approached.
"Mr. Bennett?""
I turned.
"Yes?""
"We've taken Mr. Shaw for further questioning. Ms. Cole is cooperating with the investigation.""
I looked toward Vanessa.
She was sitting alone at a table, her wedding bouquet beside her.
The white roses had begun to wilt.
Her makeup was streaked.
Her dress was still spotless.
A strange contrast.
"Is she being arrested?"" I asked.
"At this stage, we're gathering information. Any decisions will depend on the evidence.""
I nodded.
The officer walked away.
Daniel approached Vanessa.
I started to follow.
Elaine touched my arm.
"Let him speak to her.""
I looked at my wife.
She was right.
I stayed beside her.
Daniel stopped in front of Vanessa.
"Why didn't you tell me about your father's debts?""
Vanessa looked up.
"I was ashamed.""
"You could have told me.""
"You would have judged him.""
"Maybe. But I would have listened.""
She shook her head.
"You don't understand what it was like growing up with my mother and father fighting about money. My father lost everything. My mother blamed him for years.""
Daniel sat opposite her.
"So you decided to use my family?""
"I didn't think it would happen like this.""
"What did you think would happen?""
She wiped her face.
"My mother said your father would eventually give you the Vermont house. She said the financing was temporary. Once your family transferred the property into the trust, the lender would release the money.""
Daniel stared at her.
"And my name?""
"Gregory said you needed to guarantee the loan.""
"Did you know it was a personal guarantee?""
She hesitated.
"I thought it was just a formality.""
"Seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars isn't a formality.""
"I know.""
He looked at her.
"Did you ever love me?""
Vanessa's face crumpled.
"Of course I did.""
"Then why?""
She looked down.
"Because I was terrified.""
"Of what?""
"Of losing everything.""
Daniel laughed sadly.
"You were afraid of losing everything, so you tried to take everything from my parents?""
She began crying.
He stood.
"Did you ever intend to tell me about the debt?""
She didn't answer.
Daniel nodded slowly.
"That's what I thought.""
He removed his wedding ring.
He placed it on the table.
Vanessa stared at it.
"Daniel?""
He stepped backward.
"I need time.""
She grabbed his hand.
"Don't do this.""
He gently pulled away.
"I don't even know who I married.""
She stood abruptly.
"You can't just walk away!""
Daniel looked at her.
"Watch me.""
Then he turned and walked toward us.
I placed my hand on his shoulder.
He looked at Elaine.
"Mom, I'm sorry.""
She reached up and touched his cheek.
"Oh, Daniel.""
He began crying.
Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
Just the way a grown man cries when he finally understands how badly he has hurt the people who loved him.
"I'm sorry I didn't defend you.""
Elaine pulled him into her arms.
"I know.""
"I'm so sorry.""
She held him for several seconds.
Then she whispered:
"You don't have to earn your way back into our family, darling. But you do have to be honest with us.""
He nodded.
I looked away.
I didn't want my son to see my eyes.
A few minutes later, Martin returned with another document.
"Richard, we have a problem.""
I turned.
"What now?""
He handed me a printed bank record.
"The private lender has frozen the proposed transaction. But we've found another account connected to Cole Family Holdings.""
I looked at the page.
A transfer of $30,000 had been made to Edward Collins.
The same amount he had admitted receiving.
Then I noticed another transfer.
$15,000.
The recipient was listed as a company called Bennett Family Consulting.
I frowned.
"I don't own a company by that name.""
Martin shook his head.
"Neither does Daniel.""
I looked closer.
The company had been registered two months earlier.
Its director was listed as...
Elaine Bennett.
My wife stared at the paper.
"What?""
I handed it to her.
She examined the name.
"I've never owned a company.""
Martin nodded.
"We believe someone used your personal information to register it.""
Daniel stepped closer.
"Why would they do that?""
Martin looked at me.
"Because this company appears to have received money from the same financing network.""
I examined the transaction history.
There were four deposits.
Fifteen thousand.
Twenty-two thousand.
Eighteen thousand.
And another fifteen thousand.
Seventy thousand dollars in total.
I looked at Elaine.
"Did you ever receive money from this company?""
She shook her head.
"Never.""
Martin turned another page.
"The account was opened using a copy of an identification document and an electronic signature.""
I felt my hands tighten.
"Whose signature?""
He looked at Elaine.
"Your wife's.""
Elaine closed her eyes.
I wrapped my arm around her.
Then Daniel noticed something at the bottom of the report.
"Dad.""
I looked at him.
He pointed to the account's latest transaction.
A payment of $15,000 had been sent the previous evening.
The recipient wasn't Celeste.
It wasn't Gregory.
It wasn't Edward.
It was an account belonging to someone whose name I had not expected to see.
Daniel read it aloud.
"Elaine Bennett.""
I frowned.
"That's my wife's name.""
Martin nodded.
"But the account receiving the money isn't the one you know.""
I looked at him.
"Where is it?""
He turned the page.
The receiving bank was overseas.
And the account holder's address was connected to a property in London.
Daniel stared at the document.
"Why would someone send money to an account in my mother's name?""
Martin answered carefully.
"Possibly to make the transactions appear legitimate.""
I looked at the ballroom.
The wedding decorations.
The flowers.
The cake.
The guests slowly leaving.
And the bride sitting alone at a table.
I had entered that garden believing my biggest problem was a disrespectful daughter-in-law.
Now I was looking at a network of suspicious companies, fraudulent signatures, and financial transactions that crossed international borders.
I turned toward Martin.
"Find out who controls that account.""
He nodded.
"I've already requested the information.""
Then his phone rang.
He listened.
His expression changed.
"What?""
He looked at me.
"Richard, the bank has identified the account holder.""
I waited.
He lowered his voice.
"It's not a stranger.""
I felt Elaine grip my hand.
Martin looked directly at Daniel.
"It's someone in your family.""
Daniel went completely still.
"Who?""
Martin turned the phone toward us.
A name appeared on the screen.
*DANIEL BENNETT.*
My son stared at it.
Then he whispered:
"I've never opened an account in London.""
But the bank records showed something even more disturbing.
May you like
The account had been opened using Daniel's passport information.
And the opening date was the same day Vanessa first introduced him to Gregory Shaw.
