Chapter 4 - THE TIGHTENING NOOSE
The fallout in Oak Creek, Ohio, was seismic.
By the following afternoon, local news outlets had dropped the human-interest angle about the tragic Calloway family fire and replaced it with headline-grabbing exposes: ‘Insurance Fraud Suspected in Suburban Blaze’ and ‘Missing Daughter Exposes Family’s Dark Financial Web.’
Marcus and I were sitting in a quiet local diner three towns over when my phone—a burner I had picked up to avoid the media circus—started vibrating continuously.
“Let it ring,” Marcus advised, sliding a plate of fries across the table. “Your father’s lawyer has probably tried calling you twenty times today.”
“Actually, that’s not legal counsel,” I said, glancing at the screen. “That’s Detective Miller from the state arson squad.”
I swiped and answered. “Detective Miller.”
“Miss Calloway,” the detective’s gravelly voice came through the speaker. “We’ve executed a search warrant on your family’s temporary rental unit and reviewed the financial records you provided. You were right. The mortgage transfer papers filed six months ago contained forged signatures on your behalf. Furthermore, the electrical panel didn't short-circuit by accident; accelerant residue was detected near the baseboards in the downstairs utility room.”
My breath hitched. “Arson?”
“Looks like someone wanted a payout to clear mounting construction debts,” Miller replied grimly. “And since your name was illegally stripped from the title just weeks before the fire, you weren't even listed on the policy payout. If you hadn't jumped out that window, Josephine... the insurance company would have paid out a quarter-million dollars directly to your parents, and you would have legally gone down with the house.”
The room seemed to tilt for a second.
They hadn't just abandoned me in the smoke.
They had engineered a situation where my death would literally finance Diane’s future.
“What do you need from me, Detective?” I asked, my voice hardening into steel.
“We’re issuing an arrest warrant for Frank and Miriam Calloway for insurance fraud, forgery, and reckless endangerment. We’d like you down at the precinct tomorrow morning to give a formal, sworn deposition regarding the night of the fire.”
“I’ll be there,” I said. “And Detective? Make sure Diane is questioned too. She knew about the finances. She signed the trust.”
“Consider it done, Miss Calloway.”
I hung up and set the phone on the table.
May you like
Marcus reached across and squeezed my hand. “You okay?”
“I’m better than okay,” I whispered, looking out the diner window at the gray winter sky. “For thirty-one years, they made me feel like I was invisible, like I was a burden taking up space in their lives. Now, they’re going to find out what happens when the ghost comes back to collect.”
