Chapter 11 - Martin's Bad Year
Martin's bad year began eighteen months earlier.
His wife had died after a long illness.
The treatment bills were enormous, but money alone did not explain what happened next.
He had started gambling.
Sports books. Private poker. Offshore accounts.
By the time the Mitchell loan reached Carter Meridian, Martin owed almost four million dollars.
George Mitchell's shell company paid off half of it.
The rest became leverage.
Nina found the transfers.
Ethan stared at them.
"So he sold us for debt."
"He sold information first," I said. "Then he had to keep selling because the first betrayal made the second one easier."
We finally reached Martin through his sister.
He agreed to speak by phone.
His voice sounded exhausted.
"Margaret, I never wanted you hurt."
"You told Patricia exactly how I planned to arrive."
"I thought they'd keep you away from the party."
"Vanessa sprayed me with a hose."
Silence.
"I didn't know."
I was tired of that sentence.
"Where is David's letter?"
"Safe."
"Where?"
"If I tell you, George will know I'm cooperating."
"George already knows you're scared."
He breathed hard.
Then he said, "The Atlanta project isn't George's biggest problem."
"What is?"
"He borrowed against the same land three times."
Nina sat forward.
Martin continued.
"Different lenders. Different appraisals. If Carter Meridian closes, your money pays off the oldest debt and hides the fraud."
"And if we don't close?"
"Two banks discover the same collateral. George goes under."
"Why the marriage?"
Martin laughed without humor.
"Because George didn't need Ethan's love. He needed Ethan's signature."
Then the line went dead.
May you like
Ten minutes later, police in Kentucky found Martin's rental car abandoned beside a highway.
There was blood on the driver's seat.
