Chapter 5 - North Star Events Does Not Exist
North Star Events had a website.
Elegant photographs.
Corporate parties.
Wedding receptions.
No physical office.
The address belonged to a mailbox store outside Columbus.
The company had processed more than $70,000 in payments from several cards over two years.
Margaret’s was only one.
Bank investigators traced North Star to an LLC registered by Caroline Trent.
Michael’s sister.
Priscilla knew her.
That changed everything.
Dean stared at his wife.
“You said Michael contacted you out of nowhere.”
Priscilla sat down.
She had lied about that too.
She met Caroline eighteen months earlier through a luxury resale group.
They became friends.
Caroline introduced Michael.
At first there was no story about Robert.
That came later.
Priscilla had already been using Margaret’s saved card for small purchases.
She told herself Margaret would not care.
Christmas decorations.
A restaurant dinner.
A gift.
Each unauthorized charge made the next one easier.
Caroline noticed.
Instead of judging her, she encouraged her.
“She has money. You’re family. What’s the difference?”
Priscilla began using the card more often.
May you like
Then Caroline asked whether the family had other financial accounts.
That was when the friendship became something else.
