Chapter 9 - THE APPOINTMENT
Alexander did not throw his phone.
He did not call Bianca screaming.
He placed it on the table and breathed until his hands stopped shaking.
Then he called the bank.
He asked what could be protected, what records were available, and which transfers had already completed.
By morning, he had changed the passwords on his personal accounts and requested copies of the joint account activity.
He looked ten years older.
I made toast.
He ate one piece because I watched until he did.
Miriam arranged a meeting with Nolan Pierce.
“I want to know what he was told,” she said.
“We’re not negotiating Helga’s house.”
I insisted on going.
Alexander opened his mouth.
Then closed it.
At the lender’s office, Nolan greeted us without smiling.
He was younger than I expected.
No expensive watch.
No soft voice.
Just a tired man with a folder already open.
“Ewald said the property owner was downsizing voluntarily.”
“I wasn’t,” I said.
Nolan looked at Miriam.
She handed him the police report and the disputed authorization.
He read them slowly.
Then he pushed a printed email across the desk.
Bianca had written it.
HELGA HAS AGREED.
ALEXANDER WILL HANDLE THE TRANSITION.
PLEASE KEEP COMMUNICATION THROUGH ME TO AVOID UPSETTING HER.
Alexander stared at the page.
“She used that excuse with everyone.”
Nolan sat back.
“I had concerns about the speed.
Ewald said there was a medical issue.”
“What issue?” I asked.
“He said your memory was declining.”
I folded my hands to keep them still.
“My memory is good enough to remember the exact words my husband said thirty-eight years ago.
Would you like to hear them?”
Nolan looked away.
“No, ma’am.”
Miriam requested preservation of all communications.
He agreed.
Then Alexander asked, “Where did the money go?”
Nolan hesitated.
“My client loaned it to Mercer Renovations.
The records I have show business use.”
Tessa’s copied records showed something else.
Miriam placed three invoices on the desk.
Nolan examined them.
The same supplier.
The same materials.
Three different totals.
He opened his laptop.
For the first time, his calm expression slipped.
“This company doesn’t appear in our verification file.”
He picked up the phone.
Then paused.
“Before I make this call, you should see who approved the payment instructions.”
May you like
He turned the screen.
Bianca’s name appeared above her electronic signature.
