Victor Hale and the Second Husband
My attorney, Linda Park, reviewed everything from the USB.
She was careful not to jump beyond what the evidence showed.
“This doesn’t automatically prove every crime you suspect,” she told me. “But it gives us enough reason to document everything and notify the proper institutions.”
Emily sat beside me wearing a brace on her wrist.
Linda looked at her.
“Your report involving Rebecca is separate from the financial investigation. Don’t let anyone convince you this is all one issue.”
Over the next week, Rebecca changed tactics.
She stopped calling.
She started emailing.
The first email claimed Emily had attacked her first.
The second claimed the recording had been edited.
The third said the financial documents were part of normal wedding planning.
The fourth threatened a civil lawsuit for reputational damage if anyone publicly accused her of fraud.
I didn’t answer.
Linda did.
Rebecca became much quieter after that.
Two weeks later, Victor Hale contacted Linda.
Victor was not a professional loan broker, as Emily had assumed.
He was Rebecca’s cousin.
He worked as an independent document-preparation contractor in Indiana.
Through his attorney, Victor claimed Rebecca had told him I already agreed to refinance my property after the wedding.
He said he had prepared draft documents using information Rebecca supplied.
Linda asked him several questions.
“Did Mr. Carter ever communicate directly with you?”
“No.”
“Did you personally verify his consent?”
“No.”
“Did Rebecca provide his Social Security number?”
“Yes.”
“His investment balances?”
“Yes.”
“Copies of his tax returns?”
“Yes.”
The room went silent.
I had authorized none of it.
Within a month, the lender confirmed an account had been opened in my name without my permission.
The matter was referred to investigators.
Then came another discovery.
Rebecca had apparently done something similar before.
Her second former husband was named Thomas Greene.
He lived in Phoenix.
Thomas had never pursued criminal charges because, during their divorce, he believed proving everything would cost more than simply walking away.
When investigators contacted him, he agreed to cooperate.
Three months after my canceled wedding, Thomas called me.
We spoke for nearly an hour.
“She makes you feel cruel for questioning her,” he said.
“Yes.”
“And she never asks for everything at once.”
“No.”
“She takes one small piece at a time.”
That described Rebecca perfectly.
Thomas told me Rebecca had persuaded him to merge savings, refinance property, and add her to multiple accounts.
By the time he realized how much control she had gained, more than eighty thousand dollars had disappeared into debts and transfers he claimed he had never approved.
He recovered very little.
“Why didn’t you warn anyone?” I asked.
“Who?”
I had no answer.
“Her next boyfriend?” he continued. “Her next husband? I didn’t know who they were.”
He was right.
