Page 10 of The Husband's Secret
This was really, really bad. Money laundering involved concealing the illegal and criminal origins of funds and transferring those funds around in legal accounts, foreign and/or domestic, in order to make them appear legitimate. Bad, bad business.
“If that’s the case,” her neighbor confirmed, “then yes.”
“We’re still married, but my financial assets were mine before we married. This house was mine before we married. Will any of those things be up for grabs?” This was a true nightmare. An even bigger one than she could have conceived, and that was saying something considering her line of work.
“A good attorney should be able to ensure whatever was yours before the marriage is set aside. Perhaps you’re borrowing trouble. You don’t actually know what the problem is just yet. It may be something far less worrisome for you.”
She settled back on a stool, rested her elbows on the countertop and plopped her chin in her hands. “It has to be bad. Otherwise, why fake his death?”
“You were separated, correct?”
“Yes. For a year now, but he was in no hurry to sign the divorce papers or to agree to any sort of custody terms.”
“He was buying time.”
Brenda hadn’t thought of that. Though she couldn’t imagine why he would want or need to buy time. “Maybe.”
“Since his supposed death, have you noticed anyone new or different coming around at the places you shop or frequent? In the neighborhood?”
She thought about that for a bit, then shook her head. “No. Not until the FBI agent today.” Her gaze narrowed. “Except you.” She laughed, a weary sound. “You’re new and right next door.”
He laughed as well. “I am. But you needn’t be concerned with me.”
“Do you think I could find anything on the internet? About Scott or his business?”
“You can look,” he agreed. “I’m guessing the authorities won’t have released anything significant, and if your husband wassmart, he will have kept his illegal business dealings on the down-low.”
Well, of course he would.
If only she had a contact in law enforcement. She’d interviewed the community liaison officer of the local department plenty of times. But she doubted he would have access to the sort of information she would need. Another thought suddenly occurred to her, igniting a new terror in her.
She looked to her neighbor. “Do you think Janey and I are in danger? I mean, if he did this to escape trouble…how can I be sure his trouble won’t come after us?”
“You can’t. But if no one has come around before today, then chances are they believed he was dead. The real issue will be when word gets out that he’s not.”
Something else she hadn’t thought of.
“I do need an attorney,” she realized aloud. “Maybe personal security and a private investigator.” Now she actually did sound like a character from one of her novels.
“I can’t argue with you,” Ben said. “This could be something the police will resolve fairly quickly, but it could still be dangerous for anyone who was close to him.”
She knew no attorneys—at least, not criminal attorneys. Not once, even for a second, had she ever dreamed she would need one. And her new neighbor wasn’t from the area so she doubted he would know anyone local who could navigate this sort of situation. But she did know people. Like the mayor. Several high-level local government officials she had interviewed for research. She would talk to them. Surely one or the other would have suggestions.
She tensed. “He said—Detective Shelton—that he had requested a warrant for searching my house. I guess they already searched Scott’s.” The one he didn’t own, the liar.
“Do you have reason to believe he would have hidden anything here?”
“No.” She shook her head. “He was rarely even here over the past year.”
“Did he have a key?”
The question gave her pause. “He did—does. Of course. We have Janey, and sometimes he would bring her home to pick up something on his weekend. If I wasn’t here he would let himself in.”
“Then you can’t be sure he didn’t leave something that might cause difficulty for you during a search by the police.”
God, he was right. “I should search the house.”
“The sooner the better,” he suggested.
