PART 3

The speakers crackled, and Ethan’s voice rolled across the garden.

“Once the money clears, I’ll  marry Madison. Claire can keep believing we’re planning our future.”

Madison laughed. “And if she fights?”

“We tell everyone she had a breakdown. My mother already has a doctor willing to sign something.”

The guests listened as one message after another played: jokes about my trust, plans to use my credit, instructions for removing my name from company accounts. Ethan’s mother had offered suggestions. His father had connected him with the lender handling the fraudulent application.

By the time the recording ended, the officiant had moved away from them.

Ruiz approached Ethan with handcuffs. “Ethan Hale, you are under arrest on suspicion of identity theft, attempted wire fraud, forgery, and conspiracy.”

The deputy arrested Madison.

She looked at me as though betrayal were something only she was allowed to feel. “You recorded us?”

“No. Ethan’s laptop automatically backed up your voice messages to the home server you both assumed I was too stupid to understand.”

Ethan’s mother started sobbing. His father demanded a lawyer. Ethan twisted toward me while Ruiz cuffed him.

Missing persons services

“You’ll regret humiliating me.”