C.M. Administrative Consulting LLC.
Owner:
Cheyenne Marlowe.
I stared at the screen.
Cheyenne.
The same woman who had texted:
Has she signed everything yet?
I opened the records.
For eighteen months, money had been flowing from accounts connected to our marital investments.
Thousands every month.
Sometimes more.
The descriptions were carefully written.
Administrative support.
Consulting services.
Business strategy.
Professional fees.
But there was one problem.
I knew Joshua’s business.
I knew enough about finance to recognize when numbers were being dressed up.
This wasn’t consulting.
This was money being moved.
My phone rang.
Naomi.
“I reviewed what you sent.”
Her voice was serious.
“What did you find?”
“I found enough to delay the divorce agreement immediately.”
I closed my eyes.
“Is it really that bad?”
“Gretchen, listen carefully.”
I sat down.
“You need a forensic accountant.”
My heart sank.
“Why?”
“Because your husband may not have just hidden money.”
A pause.
“He may have been moving marital assets.”
I looked around the house.
The place where we raised Maxine.
The place where I thought I knew the man sleeping in the next room.
“How long do you think this has been happening?”
“I don’t know yet.”
Her voice softened slightly.
“But we’re going to find out.”
That afternoon, Joshua called.
I almost didn’t answer.
But I did.
“Hey.”
His voice was casual.
Too casual.
“How are you?”
I almost laughed.
How was I?
