Chapter 7 - The House in Highland Park
Lauren finally sat down.
The white coat that had looked so perfect when she entered now seemed too bright for the room.
“My mother was going to lose the house,” she said.
Jared stared at her. “So you borrowed money in my father’s name?”
“No.”
“His credit report says otherwise.”
“Martin handled the financing.”
Oscar asked, “With what authorization?”
Lauren pressed her fingers to her forehead. “My mother had medical bills. Then the property taxes. Then my brother’s business failed. Everything hit at once.”
“That explains why you needed money,” Oscar said. “It doesn’t explain why you used my identity.”
“I didn’t know he used your identity at first.”
“At first?” Jared repeated.
Lauren looked at him.
There it was.
The admission she could not pull back.
“When did you find out?”
“Last year.”
Jared stepped away from the table as if distance could make the answer smaller.
“Last year.”
“I panicked.”
“You let me keep sending eight thousand dollars a month.”
“I was trying to fix it.”
“With more money?”
Lauren’s eyes filled, but Oscar noticed the tears came only when Jared looked ready to leave—not when they discussed what had happened to Oscar.
“Jared, I thought Martin was moving the money into temporary accounts. I thought I could replace it before you ever knew.”
Oscar said, “You mean before I knew.”
Lauren flinched.
Jared opened the message thread with Martin. “Call him.”
“I can’t.”
“Call him.”
“He won’t talk if he knows you’re here.”
“Then don’t tell him.”
Lauren looked at Oscar.
Oscar pushed his old digital recorder across the table.
“I used this during audits when clients agreed to recorded interviews.”
Lauren gave a bitter laugh. “Of course you did.”
She called Martin on speaker.
He answered immediately.
“Did he freeze the account?”
Lauren glanced at Jared. “Yes.”
A curse came through the speaker.
Then Martin said, “Listen carefully. If North Harbor misses tomorrow’s transfer, the private lender can seize the Highland Park collateral.”
Jared frowned. “What collateral?”
Martin went silent.
Lauren closed her eyes.
Oscar leaned toward the phone.
“Hello, Martin.”
May you like
The line stayed quiet for three seconds.
Then Martin said, “Mr. Blake, if you’re hearing this, your son’s house may already be at risk.”
