Chapter 4 - Ethan Claims Claire Approved The Loan
Ethan insisted Claire had signed the home-equity documents.
Nathan produced copies.
The signature resembled hers.
Claire stared at it.
“I didn’t sign this.”
Ethan looked genuinely confused.
“You did it online.”
“No.”
Margaret interrupted.
“Maybe you forgot.”
Claire turned toward her.
“Why are you answering?”
Margaret’s mouth closed.
The lender began an internal fraud review.
Claire did not accuse Ethan of forgery without evidence.
Digital records would matter.
The application had been submitted from the Morgan home’s IP address.
The verification code went to Ethan’s phone.
The electronic signature used Claire’s typed name.
That still did not prove who clicked the button.
Then Nathan found the recorded customer-service call.
A woman identifying herself as Claire had spoken to the lender.
The voice was not Claire’s.
Ethan listened.
His face drained.
Claire recognized it.
Margaret.
Margaret immediately denied impersonating her.
Nathan replayed the call.
The woman used Claire’s date of birth.
Her Social Security number.
The purchase price of the house.
Information Margaret should not have possessed.
Claire felt colder than she had in the rain.
“Where did you get my information?”
Margaret stared at Ethan.
Ethan looked horrified.
“Mom?”
Margaret finally admitted making the call.
But she claimed Ethan had told her Claire approved the loan and was too
busy to complete verification.
Ethan denied that.
Now mother and son were accusing each other.
Claire did not choose a version.
She asked the lender to preserve all records and contacted counsel.
The $180,000 had gone into Morgan Development.
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Three weeks later, $60,000 moved out.
The destination account belonged to Margaret.
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