Chapter 11 - THE OTHER REBECCA
For several seconds, I thought Melissa meant David’s sister.
Then she shook her head.
“Not your sister-in-law.”
“How do you know?”
“Because David’s sister is saved as Bec.”
“This contact was Rebecca C.”
I sat again.
“Did you answer?”
“No.”
“Did you see the number?”
Melissa pulled out her phone.
“I took a picture.”
I almost smiled.
Apparently David had surrounded himself with women who eventually learned to document him.
She showed me the photograph.
I did not recognize the number.
Caroline did.
When I sent it to her, she called within five minutes.
“That number belongs to Rebecca Collins.”
“Who is that?”
“A corporate attorney.”
“David’s?”
“Not officially.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means her name appears on filings connected to two companies we have been reviewing.”
My skin prickled.
“What companies?”
“Shell entities.”
Caroline paused.
“I was going to tell you tomorrow.”
“The forensic accountant identified them this afternoon.”
Melissa stared at me across the table.
I put the call on speaker.
Caroline continued.
“Money moved from one of David’s primary businesses into two limited liability companies.”
“From there, funds were distributed into accounts that do not appear on the marital disclosures.”
“How much?”
“We are still tracing it.”
“How much have you seen?”
Silence.
“Caroline?”
“Approximately $2.3 million.”
Melissa covered her mouth.
I said nothing.
Numbers that large stop feeling real.
They become abstractions.
Until you remember every ordinary sacrifice connected to them.
The roof we delayed replacing.
The car I drove for fourteen years.
The arguments about Emily’s tuition.
The vacation David said we could not afford.
I whispered.
“Two point three million.”
“At least.”
Caroline continued.
“We need to move carefully.”
“Do you know where David is?”
“No.”
Melissa spoke.
“He’s at the condo.”
I looked at her.
“Are you sure?”
“He texted me twenty minutes ago.”
“What did he say?”
She handed me her phone.
Come home.
We can still fix this.
Do not talk to anyone.
I showed Caroline.
“Send me screenshots.”
Melissa did.
Caroline asked.
“Melissa, are you willing to speak formally?”
She hesitated.
Then looked at me.
I did not ask her.
I would not beg my husband’s mistress to help me.
She had made her choices.
Now she had another.
“Yes,” she said.
Caroline’s voice remained calm.
“Then do not return to the condo tonight.”
“Stay somewhere David cannot access.”
Melissa swallowed.
“Okay.”
After the call ended, she stood.
“I’ll leave.”
I walked her to the door.
Before stepping outside, she turned.
“I’m sorry.”
I did not say it was okay.
It wasn’t.
Instead, I said.
“I believe you regret it.”
Her eyes filled.
“That’s more than I deserve.”
“Maybe.”
She left.
At 1:07 that morning, my phone rang.
Rebecca.
David’s sister.
I answered.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes.”
“I’m not.”
Her voice sounded strange.
“What happened?”
“David came to my house.”
I sat up.
“When?”
“About twenty minutes ago.”
“What did he want?”
“He wanted to know what I gave you.”
My stomach tightened.
“What did you say?”
“The truth.”
“That the law firm mailed it to me.”
“Why did they send it to you?”
Rebecca was silent.
Then she said.
“That’s what I finally figured out tonight.”
I waited.
May you like
Her voice dropped.
“They thought I was you.”
