Chapter 5 - THE WOMAN VICTOR HIRED
The impersonator’s name was Elaine Brooks.
She worked as a temporary actress in local commercials and training videos.
Investigators traced a payment from Sloan Residential Holdings to a media services company.
Elaine initially denied knowing Margaret.
Then she saw Victor’s photograph.
Her expression changed.
“He said his wife had suffered a stroke.”
The detective asked, “What did he hire you to do?”
“A private family video.”
“What kind?”
“He said the bank needed to confirm she understood a refinance.”
“Did you know you were impersonating her?”
Elaine looked down.
“Yes.”
“Why did you agree?”
“He offered ten thousand dollars.”
She received three.
Elaine provided emails, scripts, and the address where the recording took place.
The location was Victor’s hunting cabin.
Inside the cabin, police found document templates, copied signatures, and financial records.
They also found photographs of Margaret sleeping.
Dates were written on the back.
Some showed prescription bottles beside her bed.
Margaret recognized the medication.
Victor had convinced a physician to prescribe sedatives for anxiety.
On nights before important financial transactions, he encouraged her to take extra doses.
He then documented her confusion.
The photographs were meant to support a later incapacity claim.
Margaret stared at the images in the detective’s office.
“I thought I was getting worse.”
Lena reached for her hand.
Margaret pulled away.
Not because she rejected comfort.
Because shame had become reflex.
May you like
“I believed him,” she whispered.
“That was the design,” Lena said.
