Chapter 4 - Four O’Clock Friday
Mercer Ridge Estate was worth approximately eighteen million dollars.
It also carried twenty-six million dollars in debt.
Michael discovered that before midnight.
“Twenty-six?” Olivia repeated.
He turned his laptop.
“First mortgage, mezzanine loan, private bridge facility, unpaid contractor liens.”
Andrew sat with his attorney at the opposite end of the library.
Victoria refused to participate.
Michael continued.
“The bridge lender can accelerate tomorrow.”
“How much?”
“Seven point eight million immediately.”
Andrew nodded.
“The $12.5 million transfer was supposed to pay that, cure vendor defaults, and fund another six months.”
Olivia stared at him.
“You were going to take money from my trust to save your house.”
“Our family property.”
“No. Your family property.”
Andrew flinched.
Olivia continued.
“You could have asked.”
“My mother said you would refuse.”
“She was right.”
Andrew gave a broken laugh.
“Exactly.”
That answer infuriated her.
“So fraud became easier?”
“I didn’t forge your signature.”
“You knew it was forged.”
“Yes.”
“You blocked the door tonight.”
Andrew looked down.
“Yes.”
Sergeant Ortiz returned from speaking with Victoria’s attorney.
“Mrs. Mercer will be leaving for a hotel. We’re documenting the assault complaint and destruction of the passport. The financial documents are being referred to detectives.”
Michael asked, “Can she come back?”
“It is her residence.”
“Olivia was assaulted here.”
Ortiz looked toward Olivia.
“You can seek a protection order through court. Tonight, the safest option is for the parties to separate.”
Olivia almost laughed.
The estate had been meant to host her wedding in fifteen hours.
Instead everyone was being assigned separate hotels like combatants after a riot.
She chose to leave.
Andrew watched as she closed the suitcase containing the gown.
“Where will you go?”
She stared at him.
“That stopped being your concern when you guarded the door.”
Claire stepped forward.
“I need to tell you one more thing.”
Olivia almost said she had heard enough.
Then she remembered what secrets cost when left hidden.
“Tell me.”
Claire pulled out her phone.
“Victoria asked me to arrange additional ballroom recording coverage.”
Michael frowned.
“For the wedding?”
“I thought so.”
She opened a message thread.
VICTORIA: Camera three must include signature table.
CLAIRE: Why? Photographer already covers it.
VICTORIA: I want a clear record that Olivia signed voluntarily.
Another message.
VICTORIA: If she gets emotional, keep guests in ballroom. No one leaves until papers are done.
Olivia stared at the words.
“They were going to film me signing.”
Andrew looked genuinely surprised.
“That wasn’t part of what she told me.”
Olivia turned on him.
“What exactly was your version of the plan?”
Andrew took a long breath.
“My mother said there would be a supplemental marital property agreement after rehearsal.”
“And if I refused?”
“She said you would calm down.”
“She slapped me.”
“I didn’t know she would.”
“You still stopped me.”
“I panicked.”
Olivia stood.
“No, Andrew. Panic is reaching for the wrong key in a fire.”
Her voice cracked.
“You made a choice.”
She took her suitcase.
Michael carried the second bag.
Elaine secured Richard’s original envelope and USB in a tamper-evident evidence sleeve.
Outside, Olivia paused beside Michael’s car.
The cold March air hurt her cheek.
The ruined passport rested inside another evidence bag.
Michael opened the passenger door.
“You all right?”
“No.”
“Good answer.”
For the first time all evening, she almost smiled.
Then Claire came running from the mansion.
“Wait!”
She was carrying a small digital recorder.
“I forgot this.”
Michael looked at it.
“What is it?”
“I started recording Victoria two weeks ago.”
Olivia stared.
“Why?”
“I was afraid she would blame me.”
Claire pressed play.
Victoria’s voice filled the night.
“Claire, I don’t care whether Olivia understands the paperwork. Get her to the altar. Once the marriage certificate exists, we submit the appointment and release. The bank will have the money moving before she calls Foster.”
Claire’s recorded voice asked, “And if she refuses?”
Victoria answered:
“Andrew knows what he has to do.”
Olivia looked toward the mansion.
Andrew stood behind an upstairs window.
Claire continued the recording.
There was a pause.
Then Andrew’s voice appeared.
Quiet.
Distorted by distance.
But unmistakable.
“You promised nobody would hurt her.”
Victoria replied, “Then make sure she signs.”
The recording ended.
Olivia closed her eyes.
Andrew had known more than he admitted.
Michael whispered, “We take this to police.”
Olivia nodded.
Her phone rang.
Hudson Atlantic Private Bank.
Elaine answered on speaker.
“This is Foster.”
A fraud officer spoke rapidly.
“We have suspended tomorrow’s scheduled transfer pending verification.”
Everyone exhaled.
Then the officer continued.
“There is another issue.”
Elaine’s face tightened.
“What issue?”
“The receiving company, Mercer Strategic Holdings, pledged the expected incoming funds as collateral for a bridge transaction yesterday.”
Michael frowned.
“You can’t pledge money you don’t own.”
“Apparently they did.”
The officer continued.
“If the transfer fails, the bridge lender may exercise remedies against Mercer assets.”
Olivia looked at the estate.
Victoria had gambled everything on the money arriving.
Then the bank officer added:
“We also found a second transfer instruction.”
Elaine went still.
“How much?”
“Eight million dollars.”
“From which account?”
There was a pause.
“Not Olivia Bennett’s trust.”
Michael looked at his sister.
The officer continued.
“From the Richard Bennett Charitable Legacy Fund.”
Michael’s face turned white.
“That account requires two family authorizations.”
“Correct.”
“Whose signatures are on it?”
The officer answered.
“Olivia Bennett.”
Olivia whispered, “Forged.”
“And Michael Bennett.”
Michael stared at the phone.
“I never signed anything.”
May you like
For the first time, the conspiracy was no longer aimed only at Olivia.
Someone had forged both Bennett siblings.
