Chapter 18 - The Honeymoon Plan
The Cayman flight was the escape route.
Police later found that two accounts had been opened there using forged identification in my name.
Victor expected the wedding to finish, the documents to be signed, and Lauren and me to leave the country that night.
I was not supposed to know where our money went until it was too late.
The FBI became involved before sunset.
That part of the day felt almost quiet compared with the wedding.
Agents took statements. Phones were copied. Accounts were frozen.
Victor’s photograph went out to airports and local departments.
Lauren finally told them where he might go.
An old marina forty miles south.
He kept a boat there under another company name.
Agents reached the marina before dark.
Victor was there.
He tried to leave on foot through a storage yard.
He did not get far.
I learned about the arrest while sitting beside Mom in the emergency room.
She had finally agreed to be examined.
No broken bones. A bruised hip. A sprained wrist.
The doctor wanted her to rest.
Mom wanted to know if the leftover wedding cake could be donated.
“That is what you’re thinking about?” I asked.
“It cost too much to waste.”
I laughed for the first time all day.
Then I cried.
Not dramatically.
Just suddenly.
I leaned forward, elbows on my knees, and covered my face.
Mom put her good hand on the back of my head.
“I almost married her,” I said.
“You didn’t.”
“I defended her against you.”
“You loved her.”
“I was stupid.”
“No,” Mom said. “You were loyal to someone who didn’t deserve it.”
Dad stood by the window.
After a moment, he said, “There’s a difference.”
My phone buzzed.
A message from an FBI agent.
Victor was in custody.
Then another message arrived.
Lauren had asked to speak with me one last time before she was formally charged.
Mom looked at the screen.
“You don’t owe her that.”
May you like
I knew.
I went anyway.
