Chapter 12 - The Woman Who Stole My Face|
I stared at the surveillance photograph until the image blurred.
Marissa Vale had impersonated me.
She had used my personal information.
She had opened an account in my name.
And she had accepted money stolen from Olivia's inheritance.
But the worst part was how carefully she had prepared.
The bank photograph showed Marissa wearing a dark wig styled like my hair.
She had copied my signature.
She had even worn jewelry from my apartment.
"How did she get my identification documents?" I whispered.
Detective Ruiz exchanged a look with Natalie.
"We believe someone accessed your employment records at the mansion."
My stomach twisted.
Those records contained my address, identification information, and documents I had submitted when Luca hired me.
"Richard?" I asked.
"Possibly," the detective replied.
"Marcus has confirmed that Richard requested access to several employee files during the wedding preparations."
Luca looked furious.
"He told me it was for security screening."
Detective Ruiz nodded.
"That's consistent with what we're finding."
I sank into a chair.
For five years, I had believed the Moretti mansion was the safest place I could work.
But my employer's own systems had helped someone steal my identity.
Luca approached me.
"Claire, I don't know how to apologize for this."
I looked up.
"Then don't try to fix it with an apology."
He stopped.
I took a breath.
"Help Detective Ruiz get the evidence she needs."
"And make sure nobody else who worked in your home has been exposed."
He nodded immediately.
"I will."
It was the first time I had spoken to him that firmly.
And he didn't seem offended.
He seemed ashamed that I had needed to.
By midday, investigators had located Marissa.
She had been preparing to leave Chicago from a hotel near O'Hare International Airport.
According to Detective Ruiz, she initially denied everything.
Then investigators presented the bank records, security footage, and messages recovered from Dominic's devices.
Her story began falling apart.
Later that afternoon, Detective Ruiz called Natalie.
Marissa had agreed to provide information through her attorney.
She admitted that Vanessa instructed her to copy my appearance and use documents obtained from Richard.
She also identified the person responsible for arranging the false interpreter's affidavit.
Richard Hayes.
The forged document had been prepared to make it appear that Olivia wanted me to control communications on her behalf.
Then the bank account had been used to make it seem I was receiving payments from the stolen funds.
I sat beside Olivia while Natalie explained the evidence.
My hands were trembling.
"She wanted me to take the blame."
Olivia nodded.
Then she signed.
She knew I would defend you.
I stared at her.
Of course.
That was the cruelest part.
Vanessa had understood our friendship.
She knew Olivia would refuse to believe I was a thief.
And she planned to use that loyalty as further proof that Olivia was supposedly incapable of making independent decisions.
No matter what we did, she had intended to twist it against us.
But now the evidence was turning against her.
Marissa had preserved text messages.
One came from Vanessa.
Make sure the account is under Claire's name.
Another came from Richard.
The interpreter statement must be ready before the petition.
And a third message concerned the missing security footage.
Remove the original recordings before anyone requests them.
Luca read the messages in silence.
Then he looked toward Detective Ruiz.
"Is this enough to arrest them?"
The detective remained careful.
"It's significant evidence."
"But investigators still need to establish each person's role and preserve the original records."
Luca nodded.
For once, he didn't demand immediate punishment.
He waited.
That afternoon, Ana Morales delivered another discovery.
The corporate transfers had moved through several accounts before reaching a company registered in Delaware.
The recipient was connected to the proposed purchase of Olivia's lakefront theater.
The financial records suggested that the missing money was being used to support the property deal.
In other words, Vanessa and Richard were attempting to purchase control over a valuable family asset using funds diverted from the family itself.
"It's unbelievable," I whispered.
Ana shook her head.
"It's a complicated transaction, but the purpose is becoming clearer."
Natalie spread the documents across the table.
"The hearing protected the trust."
"But the disputed corporate property is still vulnerable to an attempted transfer."
"How?"
"If they manage to record forged deeds or complete a fraudulent corporate authorization before our objections are processed, untangling the ownership could become a much longer fight."
Olivia watched the interpreter carefully.
Then she signed a question.
Where are the documents now?
Ana checked her notes.
"Richard's office prepared the closing package."
"Victor Bellini's company is supposed to receive the property."
Olivia frowned.
When?
Natalie answered.
"Tuesday afternoon."
We all looked at the clock.
It was already Tuesday.
Luca stood.
"Then we stop the closing."
Natalie immediately began calling the title company and the attorney handling the transaction.
She informed them that the authority of the purported seller was disputed and that the documents might be fraudulent.
Detective Ruiz contacted investigators handling the financial case.
But Richard had already left his office.
Vanessa's phone was disconnected.
Victor Bellini couldn't be reached.
And nobody at the title company would confirm whether the closing had been canceled.
At 2:16 p.m., Olivia received a photograph.
Vanessa stood inside a beautifully decorated private event room wearing the same wedding gown she had worn on Saturday.
A large table was covered with legal documents.
Beside her stood Richard Hayes and Victor Bellini.
The message beneath the photograph read:
You stopped my wedding, Olivia.
But you won't stop me from becoming the woman who controls your family's future.
Then a second photograph arrived.
This one showed an ornate document bearing the Moretti family seal.
At the bottom were two signatures.
Richard Hayes.
And Luca Moretti.
Luca stared at the screen.
"I never signed that."
Natalie examined the image.
Her expression darkened.
"That's the proposed corporate authorization for the theater sale."
Olivia turned toward her.
Then she signed a question.
Can they use it?
Natalie looked toward the clock.
"If someone accepts it as genuine before our warning reaches the closing office, they may try."
Then Detective Ruiz's phone rang.
She listened.
Her expression changed.
"We found the location."
Luca stepped forward.
"Where?"
The detective looked at him.
"An office inside Victor Bellini's private event complex."
May you like
She paused.
"And Richard's people have already delivered the deed package for recording."
