Chapter 19
CHAPTER
Gina
Present
IN AN EFFORT to settle her heart rate after her morning run, Gina slowed her pace to a fast walk. The weather app on her phone had said the day would be warm for late October, almost sixty degrees. But right now, shortly after sunrise, a heavy mist shrouded Daybreak Hill in a veil of fog.
The school bus had already driven past, making the long trek up the hill daily even though Sophie’s spoiled daughters usually caught a ride to class with friends or with their father.
For now, Gina had the road to herself as she halted near Tara Hughes’s memorial marker.
As was her habit, she paused to clear away any fallen leaves from the site, ensuring the white cross remained visible.
The roadside marker served as a reminder to the community that life could change in an instant. Death. Divorce. Revenge. Any of those destructive forces could rob an unsuspecting person of their dreams and illusions.
Gina was righting a fresh bouquet of daisies and sunflowers when her phone vibrated in the thigh pocket of her leggings. Dusting off her fingers before she checked the number, she recognized the law firm she could hardly afford.
“Please tell me you have good news,” she said as she straightened. She continued walking toward her house, covering ground quickly.
“Mrs. Ribeki?” a man asked, his cultured tone betraying the slightest Louisiana accent.
The hint of Cajun made her homesick. She missed the bayou. Her family. The life she used to have.
“Yes, Denis. It’s me,” she clarified, glancing around as she reached her own driveway to ensure there were no cars parked there. That she was alone and wouldn’t be overheard.
“I don’t have any definitive news for you today. Our office received word that the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal moved your case to next month after your ex-husband’s attorney—”
“Next month?” She had been waiting for her appeal to be heard for eight months already.
Ever since she’d lost her initial civil suit protesting the arbitration agreement she’d signed when she went on Sophie’s podcast.
“That’s correct, ma’am. The court has a very full docket, and your ex-husband’s attorney requested more time to gather supporting evidence—”
“Evidence of what? His infidelity? His need for twenty-five expensive sports cars so none of his mistresses ever have to ride in the same one?” The words fired out of her mouth before she could filter them, anger at the delay robbing her of all patience.
She recognized that she was being unfair.
Unreasonable. But her fury had endless triggers these days.
She’d actually thrown a glass at the television screen two nights ago when she’d witnessed a random couple speaking their vows in a sappy romantic movie.
Hearing the promises to love forever—it still felt like a knife in her heart all this time after the fact.
Thankfully only the drinking glass had broken and not the screen since she could hardly afford to replace the television.
“I realize this is frustrating, Mrs. Ribeki.” The attorney’s words were measured and he didn’t seem surprised or offended by her outburst. “Delaying proceedings is, unfortunately, a common tactic in these kinds of cases.”
“I’m sure Mark hopes that driving up my legal fees will make me back down.” She paused beside an oak tree, leaning up against the stout trunk.
Was it foolish of her to pursue this? All of the lawyers she’d consulted with had discouraged her from moving forward with her lawsuit, pointing out that the whole point of arbitration was that it was binding.
Which she understood in theory.
Yet deep in her gut she believed that Sophie had betrayed the principles of being a good arbitrator by making her decision a popularity contest. It wasn’t right, fair, or just. The woman had a legal obligation to make thoughtful and fair decisions to the best of her ability.
If she couldn’t do so, she didn’t deserve to hold that license.
Denis Landry had at least agreed to take the case. They’d lost in the lower court, but she’d been waiting for months for the Court of Appeal to hear it. Now, she would be waiting for at least four more weeks.
Her lawyer’s voice in her ear called her from her thoughts.
“If that’s all then, I’ll be in touch next month—”
“Actually, I have one more question for you.” She shoved away from the oak tree and headed toward the house, wanting to review the paperwork she’d discovered in Luke’s office the night of the Witch Walk.
She’d used her phone to scan the documents and then printed off copies the next morning. Now, she punched in her door code and stepped through the front entrance into the foyer.
“Of course. How can I help?”
Gina didn’t even bother toeing off her shoes since Denis seemed to bill her by the second. She moved toward the hutch and opened the drawer where she’d stashed the papers.
Her gaze scanned the insurance policy dated just this week. She’d highlighted the section that spelled out “immediate coverage.”
“Is it legal to take out life insurance on a spouse without their knowledge?” When she’d researched the question online, the responses seemed to skirt the issue.
“That’s not my area of the law,” Denis demurred.
“I won’t hold you to the answer. This isn’t related to me personally.” She tilted the papers toward a window nearby, her eyes still adjusting to the dimmer lighting indoors.
“If you’re asking, I’m guessing you’ve already read the nebulous guidance about it online. Technically, you can buy insurance for someone if they agree and are aware of the policy.”
Her heart rate quickened again. Not like when she’d been running. This thready pulse had more to do with the cold feeling in her gut.
“But unofficially, you’ve seen policies paid out even when the decedent was unaware?” The paper in her hand quivered. Making her realize she was trembling.
“Dead people can’t exactly protest they were unaware of a life insurance policy that covers them. So there remains a chance that some policies are paid out that weren’t obtained under the proper terms.”
“I understand. Thank you, Denis.” Gina’s words came out in a breathless rush.
Before she could disconnect, the attorney added, “Are you concerned that your ex-husband still has a policy with coverage on you? Because if you have any reason to doubt your safety—”
“No. It’s nothing like that,” she assured him, even though she supposed Mark could have done exactly that without her knowing.
She seriously doubted it, however. Mark Ribeki may have proven himself an adulterous liar and a cheat. Yet his reputation seemed too important to him to risk his sports career for the sake of a life insurance payout.
“I’m glad to hear you say so.” Denis sounded relieved as he gave a low chuckle. “It’s never a good sign when someone takes out a life insurance policy in secret.”
Gina didn’t guess that it would be. Disconnecting the call, she set her phone aside.
In the dim light of the dining room, she ran a finger along the verbiage of a two-million-dollar life insurance policy that Luke Sideris had secured on his wife, Sophie Durand, pondering what had prompted Luke to purchase the coverage now.
Then, she shuffled that paper behind the second document she’d scanned that night in his office. A briefly worded consent form signed by Sophie.
Except that Gina knew there wasn’t a chance in hell that the signature on the agreement had been penned by Sophie. Because Gina had discovered yet another, third document right next to the other ones in Luke’s office.
A notebook page full of penmanship attempts to recreate Sophie’s distinctive scrawl.
Together, the papers were clear evidence that someone had worked to forge Sophie’s signature on the consent form.
Luke had purchased a high-paying insurance policy with immediate coverage on his wife’s life.
All of which made Gina realize that her lover was a far more dangerous man than she’d ever guessed.
What exactly did Luke have in store for Sophie?