Chapter 4: The Baby Who Already Had a Debt
Daniel Collins read Vanessa's message twice.
Then he placed Danielle's phone on the table as carefully as if it contained something explosive.
"Mr. Bennett," he said, "I think we need to contact the bank immediately.""
Richard's expression hardened.
"What exactly are you seeing?""
Collins turned the phone toward him.
"The reference number in this photograph belongs to a financial institution. It's connected to a custodial investment account.""
Danielle looked between them.
"What does that have to do with Olivia?""
Collins opened his briefcase and removed a tablet.
"Do you remember signing any documents shortly before Olivia was born?""
Danielle shook her head.
"Michael brought some paperwork home when I was seven months pregnant. He said it was insurance documentation for the baby.""
"What did you sign?""
"I don't remember. He told me it was routine.""
Richard frowned.
"Did you read it?""
Danielle looked at him.
"I trusted my husband.""
The words came out quietly.
Collins tapped his tablet.
"That's precisely what we're going to investigate.""
He pulled up a document.
At the top was Olivia's full legal name.
Below it were several account numbers and a reference to a custodial trust.
Danielle leaned forward.
"That's my daughter's name.""
"Yes.""
"Why is it connected to this account?""
Collins scrolled.
"Someone established a financial account using Olivia's personal information. The account was then used as collateral for a private business loan.""
Danielle felt her stomach tighten.
"How much?""
Collins paused.
"Three hundred and fifty thousand dollars.""
Richard stood.
"Absolutely not.""
Danielle looked at the document.
"You're telling me someone borrowed money using my newborn daughter?""
"That's what the preliminary records suggest," Collins replied.
"Who signed it?""
Collins enlarged the authorization page.
Michael Carter.
Danielle Carter.
And beneath those names was a third signature.
Vanessa Reed.
Danielle stared at it.
"Why is Vanessa signing something involving my daughter?""
Collins closed the document.
"That's what we need to establish.""
Richard walked to the window.
His hands were clenched.
"I want the bank's compliance department contacted. Immediately.""
"I've already started that process.""
Danielle looked at the stroller.
Olivia had fallen asleep again.
Three hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
Her daughter hadn't even learned to roll over, and someone had already attached a financial obligation to her identity.
"Can they come after her?"" Danielle asked.
Collins shook his head.
"Not necessarily. A child cannot simply be made personally responsible for a fraudulent loan. But we need to establish how her identity was used and prevent further activity.""
Danielle nodded slowly.
"Then do it.""
Richard looked at her.
"Sweetheart, perhaps you should go home and rest.""
"No.""
"Danielle—"
"I spent six weeks recovering while Michael was building a second life. I am not going home and waiting for someone else to tell me what happened to my daughter.""
Richard studied her.
Then he nodded.
"All right.""
Collins received another call.
He stepped into the adjoining room.
Danielle watched him through the glass partition.
A minute later, he returned.
His face was serious.
"Vanessa has agreed to speak with us.""
Richard raised an eyebrow.
"Why?""
"She says she has evidence that Michael has been lying to her as well.""
Danielle almost laughed.
"Convenient.""
"She also says Michael told her that Olivia's account was a gift.""
Richard looked confused.
"A gift?""
Collins nodded.
"According to Vanessa, Michael told her he had created an investment fund for the baby. He said it would eventually be transferred to her control.""
Danielle shook her head.
"Why would he give my daughter's money to Vanessa?""
"We don't know yet.""
Her phone vibrated.
A new message.
*Vanessa: I'm at the marina café. Please come alone. I have something you need to see.*
Richard read it over her shoulder.
"Absolutely not.""
Danielle looked up.
"I'm not going alone.""
"She's involved in this.""
"Then she can explain herself.""
Richard considered it.
"Daniel will accompany you. Security will remain nearby.""
Danielle agreed.
Twenty minutes later, she entered the marina café.
Vanessa was sitting at a corner table.
Her red dress was now covered by a cream-colored coat. Her expensive sunglasses rested beside an untouched cup of coffee.
She looked considerably less confident than she had an hour earlier.
Danielle stopped beside the table.
"Why did you ask me here?""
Vanessa stood.
"Thank you for coming.""
"Don't thank me. Talk.""
Vanessa glanced at Collins.
"Can we have a minute?""
"No," Danielle replied.
"You can say whatever you need to say in front of him.""
Vanessa sat again.
She opened her handbag and removed a thick envelope.
"Michael told me he was getting divorced.""
Danielle remained standing.
"He told me that too. Apparently, he tells everyone what they want to hear.""
Vanessa looked down.
"I didn't know about the forged signatures.""
"But you knew he was married.""
"Yes.""
"And you knew about Olivia.""
Vanessa hesitated.
"Yes.""
Danielle stared at her.
"Then what exactly are you asking me to forgive?""
"I'm not asking you to forgive me.""
Vanessa pushed the envelope across the table.
"I'm trying to protect myself.""
Danielle didn't touch it.
"From Michael?""
"From what he's planning.""
Collins opened the envelope.
Inside were printed emails, bank statements, and photographs of several documents.
He examined the first page.
His expression changed.
"Where did you get these?""
"Michael left his laptop open at the apartment.""
Danielle looked at her.
"What apartment?""
"The one he paid for.""
Vanessa swallowed.
"He told me it was temporary. He said he wanted a place where we could stay without worrying about his family.""
Danielle's expression remained cold.
"How romantic.""
Vanessa ignored the comment.
"Last night, I found an email from a lawyer. Michael was planning to transfer the yacht into my name permanently. He wanted me to sign something.""
"What?""
"A declaration saying I had no knowledge of where the money came from.""
Collins looked up.
"Did you sign it?""
"No.""
"Why not?""
Vanessa gave a nervous laugh.
"Because I finally read the documents.""
She pulled another paper from the envelope.
It was a loan agreement.
The amount was listed at $350,000.
The collateral section contained Olivia's name.
Danielle's hands went cold.
"Where did Michael get my daughter's information?""
Vanessa looked at her.
"He had a folder.""
"What folder?""
"Birth certificate information. Social Security documentation. Hospital paperwork. Everything.""
Danielle's voice sharpened.
"Why would he have those things?""
Vanessa shook her head.
"I don't know. But he told me the account was a way to protect his money from a future divorce.""
Collins examined the loan agreement.
"Was the money deposited?""
"Some of it.""
"Where did it go?""
Vanessa pointed to a line near the bottom.
"Into a company called Blue Harbor Holdings.""
Collins went completely still.
Danielle noticed.
"What's wrong?""
He turned the page.
"Blue Harbor Holdings is not listed as an independent investment company.""
Richard had entered the café and approached the table.
"What is it?""
Collins looked at him.
"Blue Harbor is a subsidiary of Bennett Capital.""
Richard's face hardened.
"What?""
Danielle looked between them.
"Why would Michael send money into Dad's company?""
Collins checked the registration information again.
Then he looked at Richard.
"Because someone created a fraudulent vendor account using the company's registration details.""
Richard's voice dropped.
"How much money went through it?""
Collins checked the document.
"At least $1.2 million.""
Silence.
Danielle looked at Vanessa.
"Did you know?""
Vanessa shook her head quickly.
"No. I swear.""
Richard pulled out a chair.
"Daniel, call the fraud team. Tell them to lock down every associated account.""
Collins immediately made the call.
Vanessa began crying.
"I didn't know he was doing all this.""
Danielle looked at her.
"Did you enjoy kissing him in front of me?""
Vanessa looked away.
"I thought I was going to be his wife.""
Danielle's expression didn't change.
"Well, now you know what it feels like to discover that the person you trusted was lying to you.""
Vanessa wiped her cheeks.
Then she leaned forward.
"There's one more thing.""
Danielle closed her eyes briefly.
"What now?""
Vanessa reached into her handbag and removed a small black USB drive.
"Michael has been keeping copies of everything.""
Collins took it.
"What's on here?""
Vanessa's voice trembled.
"An audio recording.""
"Of what?""
She looked directly at Danielle.
"Michael talking to the man who helped him open Olivia's account.""
Danielle's heart began beating faster.
"Who was the man?""
Vanessa swallowed.
"Your husband's business partner.""
Richard slowly turned toward Collins.
"Which partner?""
Vanessa whispered a name.
"Thomas Reed.""
Danielle frowned.
"Reed?""
Vanessa nodded.
May you like
"He's my brother.""
And suddenly, the woman in the red dress was no longer the only person with something to lose.
