Chapter 2 - The Call From the Bank
The reason Lucas was recording began forty-eight hours earlier.
Friday afternoon.
I was at work when my phone rang.
Unknown number.
Normally I let unknown calls go to voicemail.
Something made me answer.
“Rachel Miller?”
“Yes.”
“This is Dana Pierce from First Meridian Mortgage. I’m calling to verify a gift-funds declaration connected to Natalie Miller’s loan application.”
I stopped typing.
“What gift?”
Silence.
Then:
“The one hundred eighty thousand dollars listed as a non-repayable family gift toward the borrower’s closing funds.”
I thought she had the wrong Rachel Miller.
There are thousands.
“You have the wrong person.”
She confirmed my address.
My date of birth.
My email.
Then:
“Are you saying you did not sign the gift letter?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Her voice changed instantly.
Professional.
Careful.
“Ms. Miller, I’m going to stop discussing the loan details. I need to escalate this internally.”
“What does the letter say?”
“I’m not authorized to read the full document to you at this point.”
“Does it have my signature?”
Another pause.
“Yes.”
My hand went cold.
May you like
“I did not sign anything.”
That was when the weekend stopped being normal.
