Chapter 5 - The Promise to Nicole
Nicole’s husband, Mark Harris, called me four days after New Year’s.
I had not spoken to him since Christmas.
He sounded exhausted.
“Rebecca.”
“Mark.”
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“Everything.”
“That is broad.”
He sighed.
“Nicole and I separated.”
I knew they had problems.
Not this.
“When?”
“Three weeks before Christmas.”
That explained why she had been at my parents’ house constantly.
“Is she staying there?”
“Mostly.”
“Why call me?”
“Because my attorney found something.”
My stomach tightened.
“What?”
“A transfer from our joint savings to your parents.”
“How much?”
“Twenty five thousand.”
“When?”
“October.”
“For what?”
“I asked Nicole. She said down payment.”
My hand froze.
“Down payment on what?”
“Your parents’ house.”
I closed eyes.
“Mark.”
“I know now.”
“What did she tell you?”
“That Frank and Diane were selling it to her privately after Christmas.”
“Did she show anything?”
“A lease purchase agreement.”
My heart started pounding.
“Send it to Sarah.”
“I already asked my lawyer to coordinate.”
“Did my name appear?”
“No.”
“Who are sellers?”
“Frank and Diane Miller.”
They did not own it.
“How much purchase price?”
“Four hundred eighty thousand.”
I almost laughed.
“Did Nicole think they owned house?”
“Yes.”
“Did you?”
“Yes.”
Fair.
Most people assume parents own the house they have lived in for thirty years.
“What was twenty five thousand?”
Nonrefundable option deposit.
Parents signed acknowledging receipt.
Closing anticipated:
March 15.
After my proposed occupancy termination date.
That meant when Dad said “after holidays,” he was not speaking vaguely.
They had already promised Nicole the house.
“What happened to money?”
Mark said:
“I don’t know.”
We soon found out.
Dad’s attorney produced bank records under discovery.
$25,000 deposited October 18.
Within one week:
$9,600 property taxes? But property taxes are escrow via Rebecca mortgage, so no. Could be credit cards/medical expenses. Better:
$8,200 credit card payment.
$6,000 transferred to Diane.
$5,500 paid to a contractor for kitchen cabinetry planning.
$4,000 personal loan.
Rest spent.
They had sold an option on property they did not own and spent deposit.
Nicole knew title was in my name?
That question mattered.
Mark said:
“She knew after we refinanced? I’m not sure.”
At Christmas, she clearly knew I signed original paperwork.
But maybe believed “formality.”
The photo order note:
Keep Rebecca until transfer completed.
Why keep me in portrait if I was not owner?
Because she needed my signature.
The second portrait was intended after transfer.
A symbolic before and after.
I felt sick.
Not because picture was evidence of deed fraud.
Because my sister had commissioned a future family photograph in which I remained only until I handed over the asset.
My daughter was removed immediately.
I was scheduled to disappear next.
That was the deeper cruelty.
Not “there wasn’t room.”
There was a sequence.
First Ella.
Then me.
Mark sent texts Nicole had written:
Nicole: Mom says Rebecca will sign after Christmas.
Mark: Why would she give up a house she owns?
Nicole: She doesn’t own it like that. She just holds title.
Mark: Get a lawyer.
Nicole: Dad has paperwork.
Mark: Do not send them money until title confirms.
Two days later:
Nicole: Mom says if we wait, Eric will demand a share.
Mark replied:
I’m not comfortable.
Yet the $25,000 transfer happened from joint savings using Nicole’s authorized access.
Mark was furious.
Their divorce would address it.
Not my case.
But the texts showed Nicole believed some document would force or justify transfer.
Maybe the forged memorandum.
I asked:
“Did Nicole ever say she saw Rebecca sign it?”
Mark paused.
“Yes.”
My skin went cold.
“What exactly?”
“She told me, ‘I watched Rebecca sign the agreement years ago.’”
That was impossible.
I had been in hospital with Ella.
Mark continued:
“She said that several times.”
The false document now had a false witness.
Sarah said:
“Good.”
I stared.
“How is that good?”
“Because lies become easier to test when people commit to detail.”
May you like
Nicole had committed.
Now we needed find who created the memorandum.
