Chapter 9 - The Notary
Colleen Marsh was found in Queens.
She had notarized the forged Halcyon deed.
At first she refused to speak.
Then federal agents showed her the bank records.
Thirty thousand dollars from Vale Advisory Group.
Colleen hired a lawyer.
By evening she began cooperating.
Her story was simple.
Serena called.
She said Ava was on doctor-ordered bed rest and needed a property deed notarized urgently.
Colleen asked to meet Ava.
Serena said Ava had already signed.
“That isn’t enough,” Colleen told investigators.
Serena offered five thousand dollars.
Colleen refused.
Ten.
Refused.
Thirty.
She agreed.
She notarized the signature without Ava present.
No sophisticated impersonation.
No technological miracle.
Just money.
The forged deed passed through because a licensed person abandoned a basic safeguard.
Ava found that almost more frightening than a complex scheme.
“How many crimes depend on someone deciding rules are inconvenient?” she asked.
Elena replied, “A great many.”
Colleen also notarized the management agreement giving Julian authority over Halcyon.
She met Julian once.
“When?” Ava asked.
“Two days after notarization.”
“Why?”
“He wanted assurance she would keep quiet.”
“What did he say?”
Investigators had recorded Colleen’s statement.
Julian said:
By the time anyone cares, the property will already be secured and Ava will have bigger problems.
Ava closed her eyes.
Bigger problems.
Her daughter.
The psychiatric petition.
Then Colleen revealed someone else had been present.
Ward Capital’s chief financial officer.
Eric Nolan.
Until then, Eric claimed the Seabright transfer appeared as an ordinary bridge investment.
Colleen placed him inside the conspiracy.
Federal agents searched his office.
They found a draft liquidity schedule.
It showed Ward Capital required $18.7 million before June 1 to avoid default on investor obligations and credit covenants.
Halcyon supplied only part.
Where was the rest supposed to come from?
Serena’s photographed ledger answered.
AVA SETTLEMENT / 5–8M.
Ava stared.
“What settlement?”
Elena suspected the planned divorce.
If Julian obtained temporary custody and simultaneously controlled Halcyon, he could pressure Ava into a rapid marital settlement.
Property.
Custody.
Reputation.
Money.
Everything at once.
Another ledger line:
MONROE FOUNDATION NOTE / 4M POSSIBLE.
Margaret looked up.
“What?”
They traced it.
Julian had approached a lender claiming he expected a $4 million “family support payment” from the Monroe Foundation following the baby’s birth.
Margaret had never promised such a payment.
“He was borrowing against money that didn’t exist,” Ava said.
“Again,” Elena replied.
Ward Capital was not merely illiquid.
It was living on representations about future assets Julian did not own.
The company suspended Eric Nolan immediately.
Julian’s administrative leave became formal termination two days later.
Ava expected him to collapse.
Instead, he called.
This time Elena allowed Ava to answer while recording lawfully under New York’s one-party consent rule.
Julian sounded calm.
“You got me fired.”
“You forged my deed.”
“Serena did.”
“You received six point two million dollars.”
“For the firm.”
“You locked me in a cellar.”
“You were leaving.”
“That is what adults are allowed to do.”
Silence.
Ava continued.
“You bought a fake psychiatric letter.”
“I didn’t.”
“Colleen is cooperating.”
Julian’s breathing changed.
Ava heard it.
“She met you.”
“I meet hundreds of people.”
“She notarized my forged deed.”
Julian said nothing.
Ava pushed too far.
“Eric is talking too.”
She did not actually know whether Eric was cooperating.
Julian reacted.
“Eric doesn’t know anything about the custody side.”
Ava stopped.
Elena’s eyes widened.
There.
Julian realized it too late.
Ava’s voice became quiet.
“So there was a custody side.”
Julian disconnected.
Elena saved the recording.
Ava’s hands shook.
“That helps.”
“Yes.”
“Enough?”
“Evidence is cumulative.”
Ava hated that phrase now.
Everything needed five other things beside it.
Then her phone buzzed.
A text from Julian.
You think Serena is helping you. Ask her what she was supposed to do after the hospital.
Ava showed Elena.
They contacted Serena’s attorney.
Hours passed.
Finally Serena agreed to answer.
Elena asked directly:
“What were you supposed to do after Ava was admitted?”
Serena stared at the conference table.
“Take the baby to Julian’s townhouse.”
Ava’s stomach turned.
“Why not our house?”
Serena looked up.
“Because Julian was going to sell it.”
Ava froze.
The Westchester mansion.
Their marital home.
Julian had already negotiated a confidential sale.
The closing was scheduled for two weeks after Ava’s due date.
May you like
He planned to strip away her house before delivery.
Then move her child somewhere she had never lived.
