Chapter 2 - THE SECOND BRIDE IN ARIZONA
I stared at the insurance documents until the numbers blurred.
Raymond had purchased a policy on Victoria’s life eight months earlier.
The benefit was two million dollars.
The beneficiary was a company called Desert Sun Consulting.
The company belonged to a woman named Rebecca Lane.
Rebecca was twenty-nine.
She lived in Scottsdale.
And according to public wedding records, she had reserved a luxury resort for the following month.
The groom’s name was listed as Raymond Cole.
Victoria believed Raymond had returned because he regretted abandoning her.
In reality, he had been using her to steal money from me.
Then he planned to marry Rebecca.
I copied every document onto two encrypted drives.
At midnight, I called my attorney, Helen Brooks.
She had created the Glenn Mercer Family Trust after my father died.
“Are you safe?” she asked.
“Yes.”
“For now.”
I explained the suit.
The wedding.
The mortgage plan.
And the transfers.
Helen remained silent for several seconds.
“Do you want the pavilion locked tomorrow?”
“No.”
The answer surprised even me.
“I want the ceremony to continue.”
“Why?”
“Because everyone involved believes I will stay home quietly.”
“And because the evidence concerns more than my marriage.”
Raymond had transferred money through companies connected to Logan’s family.
Logan was Sabrina’s fiancé.
His father, Richard Hale, owned dealerships and restaurants throughout Southern California.
The bank records showed payments labeled wedding sponsorship.
But the money did not go to vendors.
It moved into private investment accounts.
Sabrina’s wedding was being used to conceal financial fraud.
Helen contacted a forensic accountant.
Before dawn, we confirmed that Raymond and Richard had created false invoices through Bayfront Pavilion.
They listed events that never occurred.
Then they claimed tax deductions and moved money through my property.
My signature appeared on several documents.
It was forged.
At four in the morning, I made another call.
The number belonged to Rebecca Lane.
She answered sleepily.
“Who is this?”
“My name is Glenn Mercer.”
“I believe we are both involved with the same man.”
She nearly hung up.
Then I sent her a photograph of Raymond eating dinner with Victoria and Sabrina.
Five minutes later, she called back.
Her voice shook.
“He told me Victoria was his widowed sister.”
“No.”
“She is my wife.”
“And Raymond is her former partner.”
Rebecca became silent.
Then she whispered something I had not expected.
“I’m pregnant.”
The news landed heavily.
Raymond had promised Rebecca that he owned Bayfront Pavilion.
He told her he was preparing to sell it after Sabrina’s wedding.
He planned to use the money to finance their new life.
I explained that Raymond owned nothing.
Rebecca began crying.
By sunrise, she had forwarded messages, account statements, and audio recordings.
One recording captured Raymond telling her that Victoria would “have a tragic accident” after the money was transferred.
He laughed when he said it.
The betrayal had become a potential murder plan.
Helen contacted Detective Laura Grant.
We arranged to meet privately at the pavilion before the wedding.
At seven in the morning, Victoria entered the kitchen wearing silk pajamas.
She looked pleased to find me drinking coffee.
“I’m glad you’ve accepted the situation.”
“I have.”
“You won’t cause trouble?”
“No.”
She smiled.
“Good.”
“After the wedding, we need to discuss refinancing the house.”
“I already handled that.”
Her expression brightened.
“You did?”
“Yes.”
I stood and picked up my suitcase.
“The property records will be available at the pavilion.”
Victoria did not understand the warning.
She kissed my cheek as though rewarding obedience.
Then she noticed the torn pieces of my suit were gone.
“What did you do with them?”
“I saved every piece.”
May you like
“Why?”
“Evidence should never be thrown away.”
