Chapter 6 - Cynthia’s Warning
Cynthia called again from a different number at dawn.
She said she was parked outside a twenty-four-hour pharmacy and couldn't stay long.
Ruth joined the call with Cynthia's permission.
"Tell us only what you actually saw," Ruth said.
Cynthia described working temporarily for Diane's office as a receptionist.
Diane had asked her to sign as a witness to an administrative form.
The signature line for Megan Lawson was already filled in.
Cynthia hadn't seen me sign it.
She had assumed Diane had obtained my signature earlier.
"I know how stupid that sounds," Cynthia whispered.
Ruth responded without judgment.
"What did you see after that?"
"A man came with a notary stamp."
"Who?"
"I only know he called himself Wade."
The information was incomplete, but it was more than we had the night before.
Cynthia asked whether telling the truth would cost her a job.
"I don't work there anymore," she admitted.
"Diane fired me yesterday."
We agreed she would speak to investigators and provide copies of any messages she still possessed.
I wanted to ask a thousand more questions, but Ruth stopped me.
"Don't turn a witness into your own private investigation," she said after the call.
"Let us document what she knows without contaminating her account."
That evening Eric made an offer.
He would move out with Diane if I signed a marital property settlement acknowledging that he'd acted with my permission.
In exchange, he would agree not to seek custody of Emma.
I stared at the document, disgusted.
Our daughter had become a bargaining chip before she was a week old.
"You don't get to trade my child for a signature," I said.
He leaned close enough that I could see the tired red in his eyes.
"You don't understand how bad this is."
"Then explain it."
He looked toward the hall.
"Mom borrowed money."
"Against what?"
His lips trembled.
"Against the closing she promised would happen."
I asked the amount.
He shook his head.
"If it falls apart, people will come after her."
"Who?"
"I can't tell you."
He walked away before I could stop him.
An hour later a black SUV parked across the street.
The driver remained inside with the engine running.
Diane watched from the upstairs window, then hurried downstairs carrying a suitcase.
May you like
For the first time, I saw that she was frightened too.
