Chapter 8 - The Trap Springs
With the accounts frozen, the mistress testifying against him, and his mother socially ruined, Ryan made his fatal mistake.
Desperation breeds stupidity.
He needed cash to hire a defense attorney. Since all legitimate avenues were blocked, he tried to cash out a smaller, $50,000 life insurance policy he had fraudulently opened in my name years ago—one David had just uncovered.
To do it, he needed my signature to approve the early cash surrender.
He forged it. Again. And faxed it to the insurance company from his dealership.
He didn't know that David and I had already flagged my social security number and name with every major insurance bureau. The moment the fax was received, the company notified the FBI. Wire fraud, mail fraud, and identity theft across state lines.
The trap didn't just spring; it snapped shut with devastating force.
I was sitting in my command office, looking over logistics reports, when David called.
"They got the warrant," David said, sounding triumphant. "The feds are moving in."
"Both of them?" I asked.
"Both. Linda’s signature was on the LLC documents that received the stolen funds, and she was listed as the secondary beneficiary on the forged policies. They’re going down for conspiracy."
I stood up and walked to the window of my office, looking out over the base. The flag was blowing in the wind. I felt a profound sense of peace.
"Thank you, David," I said. "Let me know when the arrests are made."
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"You don't want to be there to see it?" he asked.
"No," I replied. "Generals don't need to watch the enemy surrender. They just need to know the battlefield is secure."
