The Divorce Papers With Tomorrow's Date
Chapter 05 - The Divorce Papers With Tomorrow's Date
The documents were waiting in Richard’s private digital folder.
Vanessa had copied them two days earlier.
Allie opened the file on her laptop.
Petition for Dissolution of Marriage.
Prepared but not filed.
Richard Morgan versus Allison Morgan.
The filing date field contained tomorrow’s date.
Allie read every page.
Richard claimed the marriage had been “functionally separated” for five years.
He claimed Allie had abandoned the marital residence because of her career.
He claimed he had managed nearly all joint financial responsibilities.
Then came the sentence that nearly made her lose her composure.
Richard intended to argue that Morgan House, created using Allie’s inheritance, had become partially marital property because of his “extensive uncompensated management contributions.”
Allie stared at the screen.
Richard had not attended a single board meeting in three years.
But according to documents bearing her forged signature, he had recently been appointed executive trustee.
The trap was elegant.
And almost complete.
“Why tomorrow?” Allie asked.
Vanessa looked toward the clock.
“Because he expected you to stay in Washington until Sunday.”
By the time Allie came home, the filing would already exist.
The foundation transfer would already be recorded.
And Richard would present himself as the abandoned husband finally ending a dead marriage.
Allie leaned back.
She had spent her career planning responses under pressure.
Emotion could come later.
First came facts.
“Does Richard know you copied these?”
“No.”
“Does he know you came here?”
“No.”
“Then go home.”
Vanessa looked surprised.
“What?”
“Act normal.”
“I don’t think I can.”
“You can.”
Vanessa gave a nervous laugh.
“You really are a colonel.”
Allie did not smile.
“You helped him betray me. Now you have one chance to help stop what you helped create.”
Vanessa nodded.
Before leaving, she stopped at the door.
“There’s something else.”
Allie waited.
“The other woman in the photograph.”
“Yes?”
“I found out who she is.”
Vanessa handed Allie a business card.
EVELYN SHAW
SHAW DEVELOPMENT GROUP
Allie knew the name.
Shaw Development had been trying to purchase the land beneath two Morgan House properties for years.
Allie had refused every offer.
Vanessa said quietly, “Richard isn’t having an affair with her.”
Allie frowned.
“Then why were they holding hands?”
“Because she’s his sister.”
Allie stared at her.
Richard had one brother.
No sisters.
At least that was what he had told Allie for twenty-six years.
Vanessa opened the door.
“I checked public records.”
May you like
Then she delivered the next blow.
“Evelyn Shaw was born Evelyn Morgan.”
