“How do you know?”
“Because I was on the board that year.”
The invoice was for $8,700 in clubhouse drainage repairs.
Janet shook her head.
“We paid another company for that work.”
Marcus looked at her.
“So this is duplicate billing.”
“Maybe.”
“Who approved it?”
They turned the page.
Evelyn Whitmore.
President.
A second signature appeared.
Treasurer Paula Reed.
The woman who resigned before the emergency meeting.
Marcus leaned back.
“We need Paula.”
Finding her was not difficult.
Convincing her to talk took longer.
She lived twelve miles away after selling her Briarwood Ridge house two months earlier.
When Marcus called, she said:
“I’m done with that place.”
Then he mentioned the invoices.
Silence.
“Please don’t call again.”
The line disconnected.
Danielle looked at him.
“That sounded guilty.”
Marcus shook his head.
“Or scared.”
Two days later Paula contacted him.
Meet somewhere public.
They chose a diner.
Paula was fifty-nine.
Nervous.
She kept checking the windows.
“I signed them.”
Marcus waited.
“All?”
“Most.”
“Why?”
“Evelyn told me they were legitimate.”
“You were treasurer.”
“I know.”
Her eyes filled.
Marcus softened.
“What happened?”
Paula stared at the coffee.
“She’d bring invoices already prepared.”
“You never verified?”
“At first.”
“And?”
“They were real.”
“What changed?”
“She stopped giving me supporting documents.”
“Why keep signing?”
Paula swallowed.
“Because she knew about my husband.”
Marcus frowned.
“What about him?”
“He had dementia.”
She looked embarrassed even though there was nothing to be embarrassed about.
“He wandered twice.”
Marcus waited.
“Evelyn told me if I caused problems she would report our home as an unsafe nuisance property.”
Danielle stared.
Paula continued.
“She said adult services might get involved.”
Marcus felt his anger return.
“Did you believe her?”
Paula wiped her eyes.
“I was exhausted.”
That answer was enough.
“Did you receive money?”
“No.”
“Anything?”
“No.”
She opened her purse.
Pulled out a flash drive.
“I copied everything before I resigned.”
Marcus stared.
“Why?”
“In case somebody finally asked.”
CHAPTER 5: THE SON WHO KNEW TOO MUCH
Chase came to Marcus’s house at eleven-thirty one night.
Marcus saw him through the doorbell camera.
He almost didn’t answer.
Then Chase held up both hands.
“I need to talk.”
Marcus opened the door but did not invite him in.
“What?”
Chase looked behind him.
“My mom doesn’t know I’m here.”
“Then go home.”
“Wait.”
Marcus waited.
Chase looked smaller without an audience.
“I didn't know about the money.”
Marcus said nothing.
“I swear.”
“Why are you telling me?”
“Because everybody thinks I’m part of it.”
“You threw garbage at my family.”
“I know.”
“You laughed.”
“I know.”