Russell found one more thing.
Keystone Surgical Partners, the mystery vendor that received $1.4 million, was registered in Delaware in 2018. A shell company with no employees and a mailbox at a UPS Store in Dublin.
But it had a bank account at Fifth Third Bank. And the signature card on that bank account had two names on it.
Monica Hale.
And Trevor Mallory.
Carol sat back in her chair and took off her glasses.
“Rebecca,” she said quietly. “How long have your husband and your sister been together?”
I stared at the signature card.
I thought about Trevor and Monica laughing together in the break room. Trevor always volunteering to drive Monica home after the office Christmas party. Monica showing up at our house with takeout when I was at the hospital with Loretta, “to keep Trevor company.”
I thought about the way Trevor refused to visit his own dying mother.
He wasn’t afraid of hospitals.
He was busy.
“Since before Loretta got sick,” I whispered. “I think the whole time.”
I went home to Opal’s house that night and sat on her front porch steps and cried until it got dark.
Opal came out with two cups of tea. She sat down on the porch swing behind me. She didn’t say anything for a long time.
“I married a man who stole from me too,” she finally said. “In 1987. He hid four hundred thousand dollars in an account in the Cayman Islands while we were getting divorced. Told the judge I was hysterical. Imagining things.” She sipped her tea. “Russell found it. In six weeks.”
“How did you stand it?” I asked her. “Knowing he did that to you?”
Opal thought about it.
“I didn’t stand it, honey,” she said. “I fought it. And then I let it go. In that order. You can’t let go of something until you’ve finished fighting it.”
She set her cup down.
“You’re not done fighting yet,” she said. “But you’re close.”
Ethan Blake is a skilled Creative Content Specialist with a talent for crafting engaging and thought-provoking narratives. With a strong background in storytelling and digital content creation, Ethan brings a unique perspective to his role at TheArchivists, where he curates and produces captivating content for a global audience.
Ethan holds a degree in Communications from Zurich University, where he developed his expertise in storytelling, media strategy, and audience engagement. Known for his ability to blend creativity with analytical precision, he excels at creating content that not only entertains but also connects deeply with readers.
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