The color drained from Marcus’s face, leaving him ashen. Vivian’s smile had frozen into a rictus of horror.
“That’s impossible,” Marcus stammered. “You’re lying. This is… this is a misunderstanding.”
“It’s fraud,” I said. “Forging a spouse’s signature on legal documents is a felony. Actually, it’s several felonies.”
Movement caught my eye.
Maya Chen rose from a table three rows away. She walked toward us, a predator closing in on wounded prey. She was holding a thick manila envelope.
“Marcus Hartley,” she said, her voice carrying across the silent restaurant. “I am Maya Chen, Attorney at Law. I represent your wife.”
She slapped the envelope onto the table in front of him.
“I am here to serve you with several documents. First, a temporary restraining order preventing you from accessing, selling, or transferring any marital assets. Second, a notice of a fraud investigation being opened by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office. Third, notification that your employer, Thornbridge Capital, has been made aware of the criminal investigation and will be conducting their own internal audit effective immediately.”
Marcus looked at the papers. His hands began to shake uncontrollably.
Then Maya turned to Vivian.
“Miss Monroe,” she said pleasantly. “I need to inform you that you are currently wearing stolen property.”
Vivian flinched. She covered her wrist with her other hand.
“That bracelet belongs to my client,” Maya continued. “It was taken from the marital home without her knowledge or consent.”
“Marcus gave it to me!” Vivian cried, her voice shrill. “It was a gift! I didn’t steal anything!”
“Marcus didn’t have the right to give it away,” I said, stepping closer. “That bracelet was my mother’s. It is the only thing I have left of her. And you are wearing it like a party favor.”
“I’m not taking it off,” Vivian hissed, though her lip was trembling.
Maya pulled out her phone. “Then I will need to call the Boston Police Department right now and report a theft of property valued over ten thousand dollars. They can come up here and arrest you in front of the entire restaurant.”
