Chapter 9 - THE SECOND WOMAN
Maya told me not to assume the policy meant someone wanted me dead.
"Fraud is bad enough without adding murder to it," she said.
She was right.
My imagination had been living on gasoline for a week.
Still, I didn't sleep.
The next morning, the anonymous sender emailed again.
MEET ME AT 10. PUBLIC PLACE. I HAVE MORE.
Maya came with me.
The woman waiting at the coffee shop was in her early thirties, with red hair pulled into a tight knot and dark circles under her eyes.
"I'm Leah," she said. "Mark's former assistant."
My stomach turned.
She immediately shook her head. "Not that kind of former assistant. He fired me after I found irregular reimbursement files."
Leah slid a folder across the table.
Inside were copies of forged documents bearing my name.
Insurance applications. A home-equity authorization. A medical release.
"Mark copied your signature from a refinance packet," she said. "His mother told him what to submit."
"Why are you helping me?"
Leah's mouth tightened.
"Because Diane did this before."
Maya went still.
"To whom?"
"Mark's first wife."
I stared at her.
Mark had told me his first marriage ended after six months because his wife cheated.
Leah pulled out a printed court docket.
"Her name is Natalie Reed. She filed for a protective order against Diane nine years ago."
My skin prickled.
"What happened?"
"She withdrew it. Then disappeared from their lives."
I found Natalie online that afternoon.
She lived two states away and worked as a dental hygienist.
I sent one message.
My name is Rachel Morgan. I'm married to Mark. Diane is trying to take my baby. I think you may understand.
The reply came eleven minutes later.
CALL ME NOW.
When Natalie answered, she didn't say hello.
She said, "Is Diane still using the phrase maternal instability?"
I gripped the phone.
"Yes."
May you like
Natalie exhaled.
"Then listen carefully. She doesn't want grandchildren. She wants replacements."
