Part 4

Nathan said Northbridge had needed a temporary loan. He insisted he had only prepared the application and that no money had changed hands. But when Diane contacted the lender, its representative confirmed an application had been submitted using Elise's name.

The lender agreed to suspend review while it investigated the disputed signature. It sent Elise copies of the paperwork and a list of documents submitted with it. One attachment was a scan of her passport. Another was an email apparently sent from her address.

Elise checked her sent folder. There was no such message. Diane recommended an independent examination of the account rather than guessing how the email had been created.

Mara called that afternoon. She had ended her relationship with Nathan, and she sounded embarrassed rather than triumphant. “He asked me to sign as the project architect,” she said. “I refused because I hadn't designed the work listed.”

“Why did you bring it to me?” Elise asked.

“Because once I knew you hadn't agreed to a separation, I couldn't pretend the rest was normal.”

Mara sent the messages Nathan had written to her. One referred to a meeting with his business partner, Grant, at the hotel. Elise saw no reason to trust Mara automatically, but she could verify the documents.

That evening Nathan packed a bag. “I can stay somewhere else,” he said.

Elise held the door open. “You should.”

Only after he left did she pick up the mug from the hallway and wash it herself.