Chapter 4 - The BeneficiaryMy first thought was that I had misheard him.
"My life insurance?"
"Yes."
"Changed to whom?"
Daniel hesitated.
"Your brother, Eric Whitman."
My knees nearly gave out.
I sat down.
"That can't be legal."
"It's not."
Mom suddenly sat in the chair opposite me.
I looked at her.
She wouldn't meet my eyes.
"Dad?"
He looked devastated.
"Rachel..."
"Did you know?"
"No."
Mom suddenly spoke.
"Eric said it was temporary."
I turned toward her.
"What does that even mean?"
"He was desperate."
"So he stole my identity."
"He was trying to protect the family."
"With my life insurance?"
She began crying.
"You don't understand what happened after the business failed."
I stared at her.
"No. You don't understand what happened after I started paying."
For years, they had made me believe I was helping them survive.
Now I wondered whether I had been helping them conceal something much bigger.
Daniel continued on the phone.
"Ms. Whitman, there are several documents we'd like you to review."
"When?"
"As soon as possible."
I looked at my parents.
"I'll come today."
After hanging up, I opened my insurance account.
The beneficiary section showed Eric's name.
The change date was sixteen months ago.
Then I saw the method of verification.
Online signature.
Security questions.
And a copy of my driver's license.
I had never uploaded my driver's license to the insurance company.
Someone had.
My stomach turned.
"Where did Eric get this?"
Dad whispered, "Your mother keeps copies of everyone's documents."
I looked at Mom.
She nodded weakly.
"He asked me."
"You gave him my identification?"
"I didn't know what he was going to do."
"You never asked."
"I trusted him."
I stood.
"Apparently everyone did."
At noon, I drove to the sheriff's office.
Daniel Reeves met me in a small conference room.
He was in his forties, calm, almost unnervingly patient.
He placed a folder on the table.
"We've been investigating fraudulent applications connected to several local businesses."
"What does that have to do with me?"
He opened the folder.
"Your name was used on three separate applications."
Three.
Not one.
Three.
"Loans?"
"Loans, a line of credit, and a corporate guarantee."
My mouth went dry.
"Corporate guarantee?"
He nodded.
"Your name was used to guarantee debt for a company called Whitman Construction Holdings."
"My father's old company."
"Exactly."
"But the company doesn't exist anymore."
Daniel looked at me.
"It legally dissolved."
Then he slid another document across the table.
"But someone reopened a related entity under a different name."
I read the heading.
Whitman Development Group LLC.
Authorized member:
Rachel Whitman.
I looked up.
"I don't own this company."
Daniel nodded.
"We know."
"Then who does?"
He stared at me for several seconds.
"That's what we're investigating."
I read further.
The company had obtained financing.
Millions of dollars had moved through its accounts.
Millions.
"How much?"
"Approximately $1.2 million."
My breath caught.
"I had nothing to do with this."
"We believe you."
"Then why am I being investigated?"
"Because on paper, you are the owner."
I stared at him.
"What happens if the money can't be accounted for?"
"Then creditors will come after you."
My phone buzzed.
Mom.
I ignored it.
Then another message arrived.
Rachel, don't tell the police everything.
I stared at the screen.
Daniel noticed.
"Is that your mother?"
I nodded.
"Read it again."
I did.
Daniel leaned back.
"She's worried."
"No."
I looked at the message.
"She's scared."
Then another message appeared.
May you like
From Eric.
You have no idea what you've just started.
