Chapter 6 - THE EIGHT-MILLION-DOLLAR POLICY

The rejected life-insurance application changed the tone of every room.

Before, Derek could argue anger. Panic. Money.

A terrible shove during a fight.

Now there was a document created one week before I fell, asking an insurer to pay him eight million dollars if I died. My signature. Not mine.

The application included a health questionnaire.

Someone had answered:

“No major recent medical concerns.” False.

I had undergone testing for severe migraines and dizzy spells after Derek struck the wall beside my head during an argument. I had not been diagnosed with anything serious, but those visits existed.

Who filled the application?

A broker named Michael Voss.

He told detectives Derek said:

“My wife handles paperwork badly, so I’m helping.” Then:

“Did Abigail appear?” “No.”

“Did you verify signature live?” “No.”

Problem for broker too.

Then Derek’s lawyer said the application was estate planning.

Normal spouses buy insurance. True.

Then why eight million?

Because trust value.

Then: “Why one week before stairs?”

Coincidence, they said.

Then Nicole Harris produced one text. Derek:

“Insurance guy thinks it’ll clear.” Nicole:

“You’re insane if Abby doesn’t know.” Derek:

“She’ll know after.” After what?

Could mean after approval.

Could mean worse. Then another:

“I need options if she blows everything up.” There.

Not clean murder language. But dark.

Then prosecutor offered Derek plea discussion on fraud and assault if he cooperated fully. He refused.

He still believed he could beat the money case by arguing I had informally authorized family management.

Then trust records.

Could there be any legitimate authority?

One email from me four years earlier:

“Derek can help your dad with paperwork if needed.”

I wrote that.

In context, Thomas had asked whether Derek could pick up tax documents.

Derek’s lawyer waved it like power of attorney. Caroline laughed.

Then: “Help with paperwork is not consent to amend beneficial interests.” Good.

Then my old financial habits complicated.

I had signed blank household forms sometimes. Auto registration. Insurance renewals.

Derek would say:

“Sign here, I’ll fill rest.”

I trusted him.

Could one signature have been scanned? Yes.

Then I remembered a stack one Christmas.

He said they were refinance disclosures.

I signed three signature pages without reading full packet. There. Again.

My own shortcut.

Not consent to fraud.

Still evidence they used.

Then I told prosecutor before defense found. Good. Transparency.

Then Derek’s lawyer said:

“Mrs. Reed repeatedly authorized her husband to complete documents.” Maybe some.

Then forensic document examination showed trust amendment used a signature lifted from mortgage closing—not fresh signature.

Life policy used same image. There. Digital paste.

Then Margaret’s notary seal on trust amendment. She claimed:

“I believed Derek had Abigail’s permission.”

Then hospital recording:

“We broke one leg.”

Not good for credibility.

Then Thomas testified before grand jury.

He said Margaret told him after forged amendment:

“Once Derek is beneficiary, Abby can stop pretending she holds all the cards.”

Then: “Did you ask what she meant?” “No.” Thomas again. Then: “Why?”

“I did not want to know.” There.

Sometimes silence is chosen precisely because knowledge creates duty.

Then attempted murder charge? Prosecutors charged attempted first-degree? Maybe too strong. Let's make attempted murder and insurance fraud with alternate lesser included? In fiction, prosecutor filed attempted murder based on totality. Fine.

Derek was charged with attempted murder.

The headline exploded.

I hated that.

Because suddenly strangers discussed my marriage.

Then reporter outside hospital later? I was discharged by then.

I gave no interviews.

Then Derek’s family friends called me liar. One woman:

“He adored you.” Maybe.

Then: “He bought you everything.”

With my trust money, partly.

Then: “He never hit you before.” False.

Then: “Why didn’t you leave?”

The question everyone asks because it moves focus.

My answer to myself:

Because abuse rarely begins with stairs.

It begins with smaller permissions.

Then one day I found old photographs.

A bruise on wrist.

I had captioned: “Clumsy me.” I cried.

Then physical therapy.

I walked with crutches. Then cane.

Then one day without.

My leg still hurt.

But I could stand.

Then divorce discovery.

Derek had a hidden account with $190,000 from consulting payments.

He offered to return if I dropped claim to condo. No.

Independent tracing showed condo 94% purchased with trust funds.

Court ultimately treated as trust restitution property subject separate legal claims.

Then Caroline asked:

“Do you want condo?” No. Then: “Sell.” Good.

Trust recovered proceeds.

Then I used none for revenge. Paid litigation. Restored trust.

Then dad’s assets.

Alan’s original trust had scholarship clause for me? No need.

Then I found a letter where he wrote:

“Abby, if you ever inherit enough money to stop working, do not let it convince you work is proof of virtue.” I laughed.

Dad really liked giving instructions.

Then: “Do what you want.” Better. Then question:

What did I want?

I did not know.

Then Derek’s criminal trial date set.

Before trial, Margaret’s lawyer requested separate plea.

She would admit document fraud, false notarization, assault, and conspiracy to conceal trust misuse.

In exchange, no attempted-homicide conspiracy charge absent evidence she intended my death. Reasonable.

Then Margaret asked to make statement. Through counsel:

“I never wanted Abigail dead.”

I believed that maybe.

Then: “I wanted her controllable.” There.

That was enough to chill me.

Then: “I believed everything would be fixed if she signed.” Again.

Then: “When Derek pushed her, I panicked.”

Then: “I searched for papers before calling ambulance.” Specific.

Then plea accepted.

She faced custody? Given fraud scale and assault, yes perhaps 3 years, restitution, supervised release, fiduciary ban.

Then before sentencing, Margaret asked to see me. No.

Then wrote letter.

I did not open. Not yet.

Then Derek’s attorney produced surprise witness. Nicole.

She changed part of statement.

She now said Derek talked about leaving me, not killing. Why change?

Then bank transfer.

$75,000 from Derek’s hidden account to Nicole’s brother’s company after his arrest.

Was it bribe?

Nicole said repayment for old loan. No paperwork.

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Then prosecutors investigated witness tampering.

And suddenly Derek’s case gained another charge before jury ever heard the first one.