Chapter 9 - THE PRICE OF AN INSURANCE POLICY
Julianne's disclosure did not prove David's intentions by itself.
But it aligned with other information investigators were gathering.
The forged approvals.
The questionable guarantees.
The contingency agreement.
And the repeated effort to place Maya's name on transactions she had never authorized.
Special Agent Reeves began building a clearer picture of the suspected scheme.
According to the evidence under review, David had attracted investors by promising access to carefully managed commercial assets.
His company presented polished financial statements.
It hosted expensive conferences.
It maintained an impressive headquarters.
And David cultivated a reputation as a disciplined investment strategist.
But behind the presentation, the company's obligations had grown increasingly difficult to meet.
Some accounts had been misrepresented.
Some funds had been transferred for purposes inconsistent with investor disclosures.
And supporting documents appeared to have been altered.
The investigation eventually reached Ethan Cole.
Ethan was not difficult to locate.
He lived in a gated development outside Scottsdale, Arizona.
He owned multiple luxury vehicles.
And he frequently posted photographs of himself attending investment conferences.
When investigators contacted his attorney, Ethan denied wrongdoing.
He claimed that Blue Meridian provided legitimate consulting services.
He insisted that David controlled Vance Capital's financial decisions.
And he suggested that Paul Mercer had misunderstood the company's internal reporting.
But financial records increasingly contradicted the explanation.
Meanwhile, Maya had an unexpected meeting with someone from her past.
Her former supervisor, Eleanor Harris, contacted her after hearing about Lily.
Eleanor had been the chief financial officer of a manufacturing company where Maya once worked.
She was seventy now.
Retired.
Direct.
And not particularly interested in social niceties.
They met at a café near the lake.
Eleanor embraced Maya.
"I'm so sorry about your daughter."
Maya nodded.
"Thank you."
They sat beside the window.
Eleanor studied her.
"You look exhausted."
"I am."
"Are you eating?"
"Rachel keeps reminding me."
"Good."
Eleanor stirred her coffee.
Then she asked, "What's happening with David?"
Maya hesitated.
"The case is still being investigated."
Eleanor nodded.
"I read the public reports."
Maya looked down.
"Then you know."
"I know he's accused of serious financial misconduct."
Eleanor leaned forward.
"I also know you were one of the best analysts I ever supervised."
Maya looked up.
Eleanor continued.
"You were meticulous."
"That was a long time ago."
"Not so long that your intelligence disappeared."
Maya gave a faint smile.
Eleanor reached into her handbag.
"I brought something."
She placed an old photograph on the table.
It showed Maya standing beside a group of coworkers at an awards ceremony.
She was thirty years old.
Smiling.
Holding a plaque recognizing a successful financial restructuring project.
Maya stared.
"I forgot about that."
Eleanor nodded.
"I didn't."
She slid the photograph closer.
"David didn't create the person you were before you married him."
Maya looked at her.
"And he doesn't get to determine who you become afterward."
For several seconds, Maya said nothing.
Then she carefully placed the photograph inside her handbag.
"Thank you."
Eleanor smiled.
"Now, tell me what you want to do when you're ready to work again."
Maya almost laughed.
"I haven't thought that far ahead."
"Then start."
The conversation stayed with her.
That evening, Maya opened her laptop.
She searched for continuing education programs in forensic accounting.
Then she looked at the hospital foundation's latest proposal.
The two subjects seemed unrelated.
Finance.
Family support.
But Maya saw a connection.
She knew what it felt like to be frightened and powerless.
And she knew how financial systems could either protect people or place them at risk.
Perhaps someday she could use her experience to do something meaningful.
For now, however, the investigation remained unfinished.
Late that night, Rebecca called.
"Are you sitting down?"
Maya looked toward Rachel, who was reading on the sofa.
"Yes."
"The agents have made progress."
"What kind?"
"They've identified several additional investors who appear to have received misleading financial statements."
Maya listened.
"And the signatures?"
"Independent analysis has raised serious concerns about their authenticity."
Maya closed her eyes.
Rebecca continued.
"David's attorney has also been notified of proposed restrictions on certain assets."
"Will he be released?"
"That depends on the court."
Maya nodded slowly.
Then Rebecca said, "There's one more development."
Maya waited.
"Paul Mercer has entered into a cooperation agreement with prosecutors."
Maya sat upright.
"He's telling them everything?"
"He's agreed to provide information and testimony, subject to the terms of his agreement."
Maya looked toward Lily's yellow raincoat hanging beside the apartment door.
"What about David?"
Rebecca paused.
"David's attorney is preparing to challenge the evidence."
"Of course."
"And Maya?"
"Yes?"
"He is still insisting that you authorized the transactions."
Maya stared at the wall.
May you like
Then she answered quietly.
"Then he'll have to explain why my signature appears on documents signed while I was sitting beside our daughter in the hospital."
