She jumped to her feet, shivering with rage. “How could I approve adding someone to a list I know nothing about?”
The back of Cain’s neck tensed. Icy cold chills raced across his shoulders. Target flashed through his mind. Whose cage had he rattled? How? When?
He pointed back and forth between the insurance agent and Betsy. “Take my name off that damn policy. Right now!”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Cain pulled his phone from his jacket. Something wasn’t right. He didn’t know what yet, but he planned to find out starting now. First, he needed to get Betsy home where he stood a better chance of protecting her. In his opinion, nobody’s name on the current business partner life insurance list was safe.
“Mr. Crestfall, we all got to talking so much,” Cain said. “You didn’t answer her question about the two big settlements twenty-some-odd years ago.”
“Oh my gosh, I’m sorry, Betsy. That just completely slipped my mind.” The insurance agent popped his palm against his forehead. “Anyhow, the first one was when Mr. Dash was killed in the robbery at the original car lot.”
“He was one of the original partners, right?” Cain clarified.
“Yes. From the second the three original investors signed their partnership agreement, there was a business partner life insurance policy plan dropped into effect. Three partners. Three policies. When Mr. Dash was killed, that policy was paid out per the policy arrangements. All two million dollars.”
Betsy paled as her mouth dropped open. “Two million dollars. That can’t be. Joanie and her mother barely had money to put food on the table.”
“It wasn’t paid to the family,” Mr. Crestfall said. “It was paid to the owner of the policy—Carrington & Son automotive business.”
Seeming paler than before, Betsy stared at a picture on the wall, one of mountains with a lake in front. Cain stepped up beside her and guided her to a chair. Grabbing her purse, she rummaged inside till she found a small zip-bag of jellybeans and hard candy. As she chewed a few of them, he grabbed a bottle of Gatorade from the mini fridge in her office.
“Of course, when I said two events, that didn’t include the most recent policy payout,” the insurance agent continued. “As you are aware, when your husband Phillip died, his two-million-dollar business partner life insurance disbursement was paid directly to you—excuse me, I mean Peyton’s—in the form of a check.”
“What? What are you talking about? I never received a check from your company for Phillip’s death.” Her tone and words were strong and clear. “Never.”
Mr. Crestfall flipped through the records on his phone. Stared at what he was evidently searching for. “Ah, now I remember. I personally brought the check here to your office, but Papa C said you were still at home recuperating from the accident. Said you weren’t accepting anyone but family as visitors at that time. He offered to take the check to you so it could get in the bank as soon as possible.”
Betsy began pacing. “I’m telling you, I never received a check.”
Slowly guiding his screen info upward on the phone, he stopped and turned the phone toward her. “Here’s a photo of the check and endorsement for the check’s bank deposit. This is all here in our company files.”
Taking his phone, she stared at the front and back of the check. Showed it to Cain as she turned to the side and leaned close to his ear. “That’s not my signature. What should I do now?”
His brain compartmentalized each issue that needed further investigation. The problem was that things were piling up rapidly. But since Betsy trusted him enough to ask him for advice, he’d try to get as much info as possible from Mr. Crestfall without out and out lodging a complaint now.
Cain took the insurance agent’s phone from Betsy. Enlarged the endorsement bank codes long enough to snap a photo with his own phone before handing it back. “Mr. Crestfall, Betsy’s not recalling this check. Could you send her a copy of the front and back. And can you or the main office send her copies of any and all paperwork, notes, etc. pertaining to this payment?”
“Certainly.” With only a few clicks he emailed Betsy the check copies on his screen. “As soon as I’m back in my office, I’ll have everything else sent as requested.”
“Thank you. I’m not feeling well, Mr. Crestfall,” Betsy said. “Could we finish this conversation tomorrow?”
“Certainly. Take care of yourself. Call any time. I’ll make space on my schedule.” Mr. Crestfall nodded and stepped outside, pulling the door closed behind him.
She watched the man leave, then turned back to the mountains in the picture. Cain readied to call JB. Suddenly she raced past him. Yanked open the back door and chased after the insurance agent. Cain chased after her.
“Wait!” Betsy shouted, catching up to the insurance agent as he tossed his briefcase into the back seat of his van. “What was the second big settlement from over twenty years ago?”
Mr. Crestfall glanced in Cain’s direction, then turned to face her. “I figured you already knew, Betsy.”
“Knew what?” she asked. “How would I know what the other settlement was about? I was only ten, going on eleven years old at that time.”
The insurance agent swallowed big and blew out a heavy sigh. “The other two million dollar pay out to Carrington & Son was after the death of your dad.”
Cain stepped up next to Betsy as she paled, then started to tremble. All he could do at this point was be there for her no matter where this conversation led. Investigating would come later.
She steadied her hand against the nearest car. “My dad?”
