Chapter 3 - THE SECOND ELENA WARD
By morning, Elena had learned that her signature had been busy while she wasn’t looking.
According to county records, she had signed over financial power of attorney to Daniel four months earlier.
She had also authorized him to refinance their house.
She had changed the beneficiary on a retirement account.
And three weeks ago, she had purchased a new life insurance policy.
Two million dollars.
Rachel stared at Detective Bennett.
“You’re telling me Elena signed all this?”
“I’m telling you the documents say she did.”
Elena felt sick.
“I didn’t.”
Daniel stood near the window with his arms crossed.
“This is getting ridiculous.”
Nora turned.
“Then help us clear it up.”
“I already told you. Elena signed paperwork.”
“What paperwork?”
“I don’t remember every document.”
“You remember a two-million-dollar insurance policy?”
Daniel’s jaw flexed.
“That was responsible planning.”
Elena laughed once.
It came out bitter.
“Responsible?”
He looked at her.
“We have a mortgage.”
“Our mortgage is four hundred thousand dollars.”
“And?”
“And why do you need two million if I die?”
Daniel stepped closer.
“For our future.”
“There is no our future if I’m dead.”
Silence.
Nora watched him carefully.
Daniel exhaled.
“You’re twisting everything.”
Elena looked him in the eye.
“Did you drug me?”
His face changed.
Rachel stood immediately.
“Answer her.”
Daniel pointed at her.
“Stay out of my marriage.”
Rachel stepped forward.
“Your wife woke up in a morgue.”
“Rachel.”
“No. You don’t get to act offended.”
A nurse entered.
“Mr. Ward, you need to leave.”
Daniel stared at Elena.
“You really think I tried to kill you?”
Elena swallowed.
“I think I don’t know you.”
That hurt him.
Or at least it looked like it did.
His eyes filled.
“You know me better than anyone.”
“That’s what scares me.”
Daniel turned and walked out.
Nora waited until the door shut.
Then she placed a photograph on Elena’s blanket.
It showed a woman entering a notary office.
Blonde hair.
Dark coat.
Large sunglasses.
Elena stared.
“Who is that?”
“The notary says it was you.”
“It’s not.”
“We know.”
Rachel leaned over the photo.
“How?”
Nora pointed to the woman’s wrist.
A tattoo.
Small black bird.
“Elena doesn’t have one.”
Elena stared at the image.
Nora continued.
“That woman signed three of the documents in your name.”
“So someone impersonated me?”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
“We’re working on that.”
Rachel suddenly went quiet.
“What?”
Rachel grabbed the photograph.
“I’ve seen that tattoo.”
Elena looked at her.
“Where?”
Rachel’s face drained of color.
“Last Christmas.”
Daniel had hosted his office holiday party at their house.
Forty people.
Drinks.
Music.
People Elena barely knew.
Rachel looked at her sister.
“There was a woman in your kitchen arguing with Daniel.”
Elena’s skin prickled.
“What woman?”
“I didn’t know her name.”
Nora leaned forward.
“What did she look like?”
Rachel tapped the photograph.
“Exactly like her.”
Elena felt her pulse race.
“Did you hear what they were arguing about?”
May you like
Rachel nodded slowly.
“She told him, ‘You promised me once she was gone, everything would be ours.’”
