Chapter 14 - The First Husband
I had never met Sloan's ex-husband.
I barely knew he existed.
Sloan had told us the marriage lasted less than a year and ended because he was controlling.
His name was Mark Delaney.
Harrison called him before the police could stop him.
Mark answered on the second ring.
"Who is this?"
"Harrison Bennett. Sloan's husband."
Silence.
Then Mark said, "Current husband?"
Harrison looked at me.
"Yes."
Another silence.
"What did she do?"
Not who are you.
Not why are you calling.
What did she do?
Harrison put the phone on speaker.
"She forged my mother's signature and tried to borrow against her house."
Mark exhaled slowly.
"Call the police."
"We did."
"Good."
I leaned toward the phone. "Mr. Delaney, did she do something similar to you?"
He gave a humorless laugh.
"She opened two cards in my name, emptied a joint savings account, and told my family I was abusive when I confronted her."
Harrison sat down.
"Why wasn't she charged?"
"Because I was stupid."
I knew that tone.
It was the sound of a person remembering the exact moment love became leverage.
"I agreed to settle everything privately if she left. I was embarrassed."
"Did she contact you recently?" I asked.
"Three weeks ago."
My skin went cold.
"What did she want?"
"Money. She said she had an investment opportunity tied to a house."
Harrison closed his eyes.
Mark continued.
"I told her no."
"Did she say whose house?"
"No."
Then his voice sharpened.
"Wait. She emailed me documents. I never opened them."
We heard typing.
A minute passed.
Then two.
Mark stopped breathing for a second.
"Mrs. Bennett?"
"Yes?"
"Your name is on these papers."
I gripped the edge of the table.
"What papers?"
"A draft purchase agreement."
"For what?"
May you like
His answer made the room spin.
"Your house."
