Chapter 7 - The Arrival of the Police
The first police car arrived as Ruby placed the second suitcase beside her parents’ vehicle.
Jameson walked onto the porch.
“What did you do?”
Ruby did not answer.
A second vehicle stopped behind the first. Two uniformed officers approached the house while a detective in plain clothes spoke with Rachel, who had arrived moments earlier.
Evelyn rushed outside.
“This is a private marital dispute,” she announced.
The detective looked at her. “Are you Evelyn Mercer?”
Evelyn’s confidence faded. “Why?”
“We received evidence relating to suspected forgery, theft and attempted property fraud.”
Celeste stepped back into the foyer.
Jameson walked toward Ruby.
“You sent them the footage.”
Ruby met his eyes.
“You recorded private conversations inside our home,” he said.
“My home,” Ruby corrected. “And the cameras were installed with your knowledge.”
“You can’t use marital conversations against me.”
Rachel stepped between them.
“Do not provide my client with legal advice.”
Jameson looked toward his attorney.
The man in the gray suit was already closing his briefcase.
“You knew about forged documents?” he asked Jameson.
“No.”
“You told me the property records were being updated.”
“They were.”
“With Ruby’s consent?”
Jameson hesitated.
The attorney’s expression changed.
“I’m leaving,” he said.
“You can’t leave now.”
“I can, and I am.”
The officers entered the house.
Evelyn moved to block them.
“You need a warrant!”
The detective showed her a document. “We have one.”
Celeste attempted to walk through the garage, but an officer stopped her.
“I’m not involved,” she said quickly. “Jameson told me Ruby had agreed to everything.”
Ruby watched Jameson turn toward Celeste.
“What are you doing?”
“Protecting myself.”
“You knew the plan.”
“I knew you wanted a divorce. I didn’t know the documents were illegal.”
“You watched my mother practice Ruby’s signature.”
Celeste lowered her voice. “That was a joke.”
The camera had recorded enough to show it was not.
Lily pressed her face against the car window, watching the adults.
Ruby walked over and crouched beside her.
“Grandma and Grandpa are taking you for ice cream.”
“Are the police taking Daddy?”
“They’re asking questions.”
“Is he in trouble?”
Ruby did not lie.
“He may be.”
Lily’s eyes filled with tears.
Ruby opened the car door and held her daughter.
“Daddy made choices. The police are here because adults have to be responsible for their choices.”
“Will you come soon?”
“Yes.”
Daniel started the car.
As Ruby closed the door, Lily lowered the window.
“I love you, Mommy.”
“I love you more.”
The vehicle pulled away.
Ruby remained in the driveway as officers searched the office.
They found the missing jewelry inside Celeste’s suitcase.
They found Ruby’s passport in Evelyn’s handbag.
They found the forged transfer document in the safe, bearing an imitation of Ruby’s signature.
They also found three letters Jameson had hidden from Ruby.
The $286,400 payment had not cleared all his debts.
He owed another $190,000 to two private lenders.
Worse, the original debt had not come from a property investment.
Jameson had created a shell company, borrowed money through it and spent almost half on Celeste. The rest had been moved into an account controlled by Evelyn.
The “lender” Ruby had paid was connected to one of Jameson’s former business partners.
Rachel showed Ruby the records.
“He didn’t only use you to pay his debt,” she said. “He used your transfer to make the company appear legitimate before filing for divorce.”
Ruby looked toward Jameson.
He was standing on the porch, watching officers carry evidence out of the house.
May you like
He finally understood what he had destroyed.
But he did not yet understand how much he was about to lose.
