Chapter 5
By Monday morning, I had learned something frightening.
The woman named Claire wasn't a stranger.
Her full name was Claire Bennett.
She was forty-two, owned a small document-processing company, and had been dating Derek for almost a year.
I discovered that through my attorney.
Sarah had found Claire's name in the paperwork associated with the disputed loan application.
Her business had prepared several of the supporting documents.
That didn't prove she had personally forged anything.
But it meant she had a direct connection to the transaction.
And Derek had never once mentioned her to me.
I sat in Sarah's office staring at a photograph on my phone.
Claire stood beside Derek at a charity dinner.
Both were smiling.
Her hand rested on his chest.
I felt something strange.
Not jealousy.
Not sadness.
Just disbelief.
This was the woman who might have helped terrorize my daughter.
"Have the police spoken to her?" I asked.
Sarah nodded.
"They've requested an interview."
"Did she cooperate?"
"Not yet."
I put my phone down.
"What happens today?"
Sarah opened a folder.
"The lender has confirmed that the loan won't close while the fraud report is pending. We've also formally challenged the filing associated with your property."
I exhaled.
"So the house is safe?"
"We've stopped the immediate transaction. We're still investigating whether other documents exist."
It wasn't the answer I wanted.
But it was better than nothing.
Maya had stayed home with Olivia.
A child protection specialist was scheduled to interview her later that week.
The school had also arranged academic support.
For the first time, someone besides me was checking whether Maya felt safe.
That mattered more than I could explain.
At ten-thirty, my phone rang.
Derek.
I stared at the screen.
Sarah looked at me.
"Don't answer unless you're comfortable. If you do, keep the conversation calm."
I accepted the call.
"Hello?"
"Renee."
His voice was tight.
"Why are you making accusations against me?"
I closed my eyes.
"About what?"
"You know exactly what."
"No, Derek. Tell me."
He exhaled sharply.
"My lawyer says you've accused me of fraud."
I gripped the phone.
"Did you submit a loan application using my identity?"
"That's not what happened."
"Then what happened?"
Silence.
Finally, he said:
"I was trying to fix our financial situation."
"Our financial situation?"
"The mortgage. The old debts. Everything."
I almost laughed.
"We divorced two years ago."
"That doesn't erase everything."
I took a breath.
"Did you send Mr. Collins to our house?"
His breathing changed.
"Who?"
"Don't."
"Renee—"
"Did you involve our daughter?"
A long silence.
Then he said something that made my skin crawl.
"Maya was supposed to keep her mouth shut."
I froze.
Sarah immediately reached for a pen.
"What did you say?" I whispered.
Derek seemed to realize his mistake.
"I meant she shouldn't have been dragged into adult problems."
"She was threatened."
"That's ridiculous."
"She was frightened into giving someone access to our home."
"You're exaggerating."
I felt anger rise.
"She is thirteen years old."
"She's old enough to understand that families sometimes have to make sacrifices."
I nearly screamed.
Instead, I spoke very slowly.
"Stay away from us."
"Renee, don't make this worse."
"You already did."
I ended the call.
My hands were shaking.
Sarah looked at me.
"Write down exactly what he said."
I did.
Then we forwarded the call details and my notes to the detective assigned to Maya's case.
Shortly afterward, the detective called.
His name was Andrew Miller.
He told me investigators had located Mr. Collins at a motel outside Worcester.
He had agreed to speak with them after receiving legal advice.
I sat down.
"Did he say anything?"
"Mrs. Holloway, I can't discuss every detail yet. But he has acknowledged entering your home and communicating with your daughter."
I covered my mouth.
"Why did he do it?"
"We're investigating his relationship with Derek Holloway and Claire Bennett."
I swallowed.
"Is he being arrested?"
"That decision depends on the evidence and the prosecutor's review. Our priority is keeping your daughter safe."
I thanked him.
When the call ended, I cried.
Not from relief.
From exhaustion.
For days, I'd been afraid that someone would tell me I was imagining things.
That Maya had misunderstood.
That Derek was simply being difficult.
Now there was confirmation.
An adult school employee had entered my home and pressured my daughter.
My instincts had been right.
But that knowledge brought no comfort.
Because Maya had been suffering while I kept telling myself everything was fine.
That evening, I returned to Olivia's house.
Maya was sitting at the kitchen table doing homework.
She looked up.
"Mom?"
I smiled gently.
"Hi, baby."
She studied my face.
"Did something happen?"
I sat beside her.
"They found Mr. Collins."
Her pencil dropped.
"Is he coming here?"
"No."
"Are you sure?"
I took her hands.
"The police know what he did. We're taking steps to keep him away from you."
Her eyes filled.
"Will Ethan be okay?"
My heart broke.
Even now, after everything, she was thinking about her friend.
"I asked the school to make sure he's safe too."
She nodded.
Then she whispered:
"Mom, can I tell you something else?"
I felt my chest tighten.
"Of course."
She looked toward the stairs.
"There's a recording."
I stared.
"What recording?"
"On my old tablet."
My breath caught.
"What does it show?"
She swallowed.
"Mr. Collins talking to Dad."
I leaned forward.
"Where?"
"In our kitchen."
I froze.
"When?"
"The first day he came to the house."
My pulse quickened.
"How did you record it?"
"I was scared. I left the tablet recording after they told me to go upstairs."
I stared at my daughter.
She had kept evidence without knowing whether anyone would believe her.
"Where's the tablet now?"
"In my backpack."
I gently squeezed her hand.
"Don't open or change anything. We'll give it to the detective."
She nodded.
Then her face crumpled.
"Mom?"
"Yes?"
"Will Dad hate me?"
I pulled her into my arms.
"Oh, sweetheart."
She began sobbing.
"He said if I told anyone, I'd destroy his life."
I held her tighter.
"Listen to me. Whatever happens to your father will be because of his own decisions."
She shook against me.
"Not yours."
And as she cried into my shoulder, I realized something.
May you like
The biggest damage Derek had done wasn't financial.
He had made our daughter believe that telling the truth was a betrayal.
