Page 14 of Drowning in Lies
"Thanks, Uncle Pat. I really appreciate it. You take care."
I relayed the pertinent information to Chris, who advised me to go ahead and get the audits started on my accounts.
"Remember, you can't mention anything about David or the investigation. Just let them know that you discovered some irregularities on another account and decided to audit everything."
I spent the next hour talking to my accountant and the broker who managed my investments.Both agreed to begin full-scale audits immediately once I'd given them Chris's explanation. I also put in a call to the real estate attorney who handled my property portfolio.I didn't have a real estate empire or anything, but I did own three houses and a luxury condo which were all rented out, and a small eight-unit apartment building, along with two small office buildings. I left a message asking her to confirm that no loans had been taken out against any of the properties.
Shortly after we ate dinner, my cell phone rang. It was Scott. I let it go to voicemail, and then put it on speakerphone so that Chris and Sherry could hear his message.
"Hey, Lila, I wanted to see if you'd heard anything from the coroner's office. Just wondering if they had released him to the the funeral home yet.I'm trying to let everyone know about the funeral arrangements and I wanted to be sure you were still able to have it on Thursday.Let me know and...uh, I hope you're doing OK"
"What an ass!" Sherry exploded. "Asking if you're OK like it was a fucking afterthought!"
"Should I call him back?" I asked Chris.He shook his head.
"No, let me do it. I'll tell him you're resting and not up to taking calls.I'll let him know that they are delaying by a day, but I'll just say they're backlogged or something."
My phone rang again, and it was my real estate attorney returning my call. I walked into the living room to answer it since Chris was calling Scott from the kitchen.
"Lila, I received your message, but had a quick question. Did you want me to include the Meridian Street condo in this or just the holdings in the portfolio itself?"
"I'm not sure what you're asking. The condoispart of the portfolio."
"No, since the deed transfer was finalized two months ago, it's no longer part of Montgomery Properties, LLC."
Chapter 7: Follow The Money
"What deed transfer, Melissa? I asked sharply.
"Since you added your husband to the original deed, the condo can't be included under the Montgomery Properties umbrella sinceyouare the sole owner of the LLC," she explained. "The LLC had to transfer ownership to you and David jointly."
"What date did I add David to the deed?"
"Uh...let me check." I heard the faint clack of her keyboard as she presumably looked up that information. "That was on July 12th."
The pain of his betrayal swept through me, wave after wave battering me until I was literally swaying on my feet. I took a few steps toward the couch and sank down onto it before my legs gave out.
"Lila?" I barely registered Melissa's voice coming through the phone, which I was clutching so tightly my hand ached.
"I'm going to need to call you back in the morning, Melissa. Please check and confirm the rest of the portfolio is in order." My voice was tight, and I swallowed to try to ease the constriction in my throat.
"What's going on? Is there a problem I should know about?" Her alarm was evident, but I knew I couldn't explain anything after Det. Horton's warning.
"Honestly, yes, but I can't go into specifics at the moment.Please just check on the rest of the properties and I'll be in touch tomorrow."
Once I was off the phone with her, I immediately left a message for my accountant. "I need you to audit the account for the real estate portfolio first, please.I'll call you tomorrow with an explanation, but I need this done ASAP. Thanks."
"What was that about?Did you find something?" Chris's voice started me, and I looked up to find both he and Sherry had walked into the room.
I gave a humorless chuckle as I tossed my phone on the cushion next to me and stood up. The waves of pain were receding, chased out by an all-encompassing rage. Muscles that had felt weak moments ago were now rigid, and I began to pace back and forth.
"I just got off the phone with Melissa a few minutes ago." They both knew Melissa. Chris had actually recommended her to me, as they had gone to law school together. "I asked her to make sure no loans had been taken out on any of the properties. She called to ask if I wanted the Meridian Street condo included, or just the properties in the LLC portfolio." I stopped there, as another wave of anger pulsed through me.
"You didn't add the condo under the LLC?" Chris questioned.
"I did, but Melissa just informed me that I also added David to the deed two months ago. Funny, you would think I'd remember doing that, wouldn't you?" I mused bitterly."Do you suppose it's a coincidence that Vanessa happens to live in that building? When we picked her up to go shopping, she was waiting for us outside the building, so I don't know which condo she lives in exactly, but it's the same building.How much do you want to bet it'smy fucking condo?"
"Son of a bitch!" Chris yelled angrily, before stalking out of the room. He walked back in seconds later, phone in hand.
