Duplicity - A True Story of Crime and Deceit by Paul Goldman (surface ebook reader txt) 📗

“First thing I want to tell you, Paul,” themediator began, “is that everything you say to me is confidential.I will repeat nothing to Jack or Audrey without your permission.”The mediator was an attractive forty-something woman who seemedearnest in her assurances. I nodded and told her I understoodbefore she continued, “Now Paul, tell me why we're here today.”Though I wanted to scream that Audrey was a lying, conniving bitch,I went with a more reasonable approach and told the mediator aboutour history while also providing her with copies of emails fromAudrey asking me to make checks payable to FLHC. When I wasfinished, I told her to tell Audrey to simply walk away. Themediator collected my papers, and went upstairs, returning tenminutes later.

“They want $100,000.” themediator said, not revealing any sign of judgment, “because underFlorida law, the California townhouse is presumed to be a gift.According to that, Audrey is due half the equity.” Seeing my angerquickly begin to bubble, Adam stepped in.

“Yes, there is apresumption of gift statute,” he said to the mediator, “but builtinto the statute are ways to rebut it, such as length of themarriage, the fact that Audrey contributed nothing to the downpayment nor the mortgage payments, and the contribution of eachparty to the marriage. She even defrauded Paul out of nearly $7,000during the marriage, and you’ve seen those documents.” Happy tohear Adam so convincingly lay out our argument, I turned to themediator.

“So, there's no waythey're going to win in court,” I said, “but given how much it’llprobably cost me in legal fees, I’d be willing to offer her$20,000.” At this point, I just wanted to be rid of her. Themediator again went upstairs with our offer, and this time she wasgone twenty minutes.

“They refused your offer,”she stated, but this time her demeanor was not as stoic.

Her expression seemed troubled as shecontinued, “I got a sense… what she really wants is your house inJupiter. I’m not sure how you’d feel about it, but perhaps youcould sell it to her for $40,000 below the market value? They mightgo for that.” The suggestion seemed reasonable, and so we spent thenext fifteen minutes structuring the offer. For a third time, themediator made the trip upstairs and this time she was gone thirtyminutes.

“They have accepted youroffer, Paul. Congratulations, it’s over,” the mediator announcedwith a smile when she returned, extending her hand to me. Relievedto be done with it, I ignored the resentment I felt over the factthat Audrey would be living in my house. If anything, Audrey wouldbe doing me a favor. Given the loss of my business, I wasstruggling to make the mortgage on the house, and with the slowreal estate market, I would have had a hard time finding a buyer.By selling it to Audrey, I would be able to get out from under itspayments.

After the necessary paperwork was completed,Adam and I walked out of the office and into the parking lot. Thefresh air felt absolutely invigorating and I breathed easier than Ihad in a long time. Finally, a chance to start over. Adam and Ishook hands before returning to our cars. I could have run home.The gray clouds were gone.

And then they returned. Early the nextmorning, after only a few hours of enjoying life without Audrey init, Adam called to inform me that the deal was off.

“What? Shit, whathappened?” I asked, knowing it was all too good to betrue.

“Well, Jack Smith calledme to say that Audrey’s father reneged on what he agreed toyesterday, to have his name on her loan. With her bad credit, shecouldn’t qualify for a loan herself. Sorry, Paul, the deal isoff.”

I slowly hung up the phone, not believingwhat Adam had said. It seemed like every time things were beginningto look up, the phone would ring with more bad news. I wanted tounplug it.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The Medium

As was becoming typical ofmy Saturday nights since the separation, I put Johnny to bed in theevening after reading countless bedtime stories, followed by thebrushing of teeth, and the reciting of prayers. I kissed him goodnight with a promise to meet him in our dreams for a round ofcatch, and I headed downstairs for a beer, an occasional movie, andsome quality time with my lady. As always, she was waitingpatiently for me on the couch, her big, blue eyes staring up at me,anticipating my return. Taking a moment to allow me to situatemyself next to her, she would push herself against me and nuzzle myneck, her favorite way of expressing her affection aside fromlicking my face. Though I had only known her for a short time, Iknew I loved her too and I also knew, unlike Audrey, she wouldforever be loyal and trustworthy. Of course she would be. She was,after all, my dog Queenie.

Settling down with Queenieand some music playing low, I began sorting through a box ofbusiness cards and notes I’d kept to see if I might be able to takeadvantage of some old contacts for the purpose of employment. JudgeAndrews’ words to “find a job soon” coupled with my increasinglydire financial outlook, meant finding some form of income had totake priority above all else. Though most of the cards were fromother contractors looking for a referral partnership, some werefrom business people I had met over the years, and I set them asidefor consideration. It was at that time, however, that I happenedupon the name Terri Lynn, a professional psychic and a perfectopportunity to procrastinate in my job search. I looked down atQueenie with a smile and remembered how I first came to findTerri.

After Basel died andbefore I rescued Queenie from the pound, there was Kingy, anotherpoodle and a great pet for both Johnny and me. We would take himeverywhere and, when we bought the house in Jupiter Lakes, Kingy loved to runaround outside in the expansive backyard, rolling around in thegrass and chasing lizards. On one particular rainy day in July, Iheaded downstairs to talk with Johnny after a quick shower. He wasalmost five at the time and just beginning to