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

to give me abetter idea of how useful this new information might be in court.With our second mediation fast approaching, I was anxious to haveas much evidence as possible to use as leverage. If they didn’tsettle this time, there would certainly be some wonderful testimonyin court about Audrey’s secret life.

The following Monday, Icontacted Adam about Joyce’s findings, and he wasuncharacteristically excited. I also asked Adam to subpoenaFlorida’s Best Rent-a-Car, Verizon Wireless, Bankof America, and Best Invest, companies that Isuspected Audrey of dealing with, for any account information underher name. If the car rental company disclosed Audrey’s pattern ofrenting cars, or Verizon proved that Audrey had multiple cellphones, this would clearly show that she was not your typicalstay-at-home mom.

As for the banks, since her phone log showedthat Audrey made a phone call to the Bank of America debit cardactivation line, I knew Audrey had another bank account other thanthe one she disclosed to us, the Bank of Florida. Moreover, Terrihad told me that Audrey had a brokerage account under a corporatename with up to $900,000 in it. Initially, this number completelyshocked me; but then I considered that Audrey had probably beenhooking for almost five years, and therefore, mathematically it wasquite possible for her to accumulate that much, or more. SinceJoyce had followed her making multiple deposits at Bank of Florida,I felt there was a strong likelihood that Audrey had both herchecking account and her brokerage account at that bank. So, Icalled the branch and spoke with the manager for new brokerageinvestment accounts.

“Who do you use, Fidelity?Charles Schwab?” I asked.

“No, we work through BestInvest.” Learning that, I added Best Invest to the list ofcompanies for Adam to subpoena. If Audrey was hiding anything atany of the requested companies, the leverage this information wouldgive us might convince her to walk away and settle before trial.Unfortunately, we didn't receive any feedback before themediation.

* * *

November 13, 2009

On the morning of the mediation, Imethodically prepared myself for all possible outcomes andconfrontations that might occur. I rehearsed arguments in my headas I took a shower, I calculated risks as I shaved before myclouded mirror, and while I dressed I even fantasized about what Iwould say to her if I were given the opportunity to speak directlyto her. By the time I arrived at the offices of her new lawyer,Peter Walton, I was more confident than I had ever been. I sat inmy seat with the elation of a man going into battle holding theonly weapon on the battlefield. My lawyer, Adam, seemed equallyassured, and we awaited the arrival of both the mediator and theopposing counsel. A moment later, our wait ended.

“Where’s Audrey?” we bothasked.

“She refuses to sit herewith you,” Peter replied, making no movement to join us at thetable. “Will you acknowledge that she owns half of your Californiahouse?” His arms hung loosely at his sides as he stared down atus.

“No,” I replied firmly,surprised by both his directness and the lack of any kind of formalbeginning.

“Okay, that’s it,” Petersaid, and he spun around and walked right out of theroom.

What just happened?” I asked, feeling at onceangry and confused by the curt interchange.

“I’m not sure. But itlooks like you’ll have your day in court,” Adam said, shrugging hisshoulders. I sat back with the feeling that the wind had beenstripped from my sails. I had prepared for every possible scenarioexcept this. I had desperately wanted to show Audrey’s lawyer ourdocuments, believing they would have a tremendous effect,encouraging her to settle right then and there. I also wanted toshow Audrey that her days of deceiving me were long gone. I wasonce again filled with anger, feeling cheated one moretime.

Seething in my seat in the mediation room, Ilooked up in time to see Audrey whisk by, her powder blue sundresswaving behind her in dramatic departure. I could no longer concealmy anger. “Fine! Don’t settle!” I yelled, rising from my seat inindignation. Adam gripped my arm. “The FBI will arrest you, and theIRS will seize all your assets!” She kept walking, giving no cluethat she'd heard me. I knew she had, unless she'd suddenly becomedeaf.

“Okay, okay.” Adaminterceded. “Calm down. Don’t worry. You’ll have your day incourt.” I slumped back into my seat, clasping my hands together onthe desk and lowering my head in dejection. “I do have some goodnews, I forgot to mention earlier,” he said, hoping to lift myspirits.

“It better be reallygood,” I responded, raising my eyes to meet his.

“It is. I was speakingwith Peter Walton yesterday, to confirm our time today, and westarted talking a bit about Audrey. Apparently, Audrey was referredto him by her latest target, a guy named Mark Rogers.”

“Bob Thompson mentionedMark Rogers to me. His private investigator has been watchinghim.”

“Yeah, well, he’s beendoing more than watching. He actually approached this Mark Rogersand gave him the whole Audrey dossier before warning him to becareful. According to Walton, that was enough. Mark ended theirrelationship.” Adam was right, the news did make me feel a bitbetter. At least I had saved one guy from a lot of grief, andlosing a lot of money. I thanked Adam, and wearily rose toleave.

The next day, I called Adam to go over whatshould be our next move in preparing for trial. Before we began,however, Adam had some more news for me.

“I’m glad you called,Paul,” he began. “I just got off the phone with Agent Hunter of theJupiter Police Department. He wouldn’t give me much information,except to say that he had little resources, and that if you sawAudrey at a Jupiter hotel, to please call him.”

“Interesting,” I said, andpondered for a moment. “I see three possibilities here. One, AgentHunter is telling the truth and he’s just a local cop with limitedresources. Two, his investigation is ongoing, but he simply doesn'twant to give you any details. Or, three, he has been investigating,got close to the ring, and they paid him off to stop hisinvestigation.” Though I was personally inclined to believe thefirst or second theory, Audrey had taught me that the third wasmore than possible.

“It could be any of thethree,” Adam agreed, “Whichever it is,