Chapter 20 - GREG’S VERSION
Greg admitted almost everything except fraudulent intent at the beginning.
“I knew she said no.”
Then why proceed?
“I thought the no was emotional.”
The prosecutor:
“What is an unemotional no?”
Silence.
Defense objected argumentative.
Sustained.
Greg continued.
He believed if he solved Chloe’s immediate crisis and showed me low risk, I would approve later.
Why create signature?
“To hold closing.”
“By representing approval that did not exist.”
“Yes.”
He called it temporary.
Prosecutor:
“Did lender know it was temporary?”
“No.”
“Did your wife?”
“No.”
“Did notary?”
“No.”
“Did county recorder?”
“No.”
Each answer stripped language away.
Then quality-control call.
“I asked Chloe to do it.”
“Why?”
“I panicked.”
“Did you tell her pretend to be your wife?”
“Yes.”
“Did you know that was false?”
“Yes.”
There.
Whatever doubt remained on intent after closing vanished.
Then why buy sapphire?
“Chloe guilted me.”
“Did she mention the call?”
“Yes.”
“Did you tell your wife it was a legal emergency?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I knew she would be furious.”
Not because surprise.
Concealment.
Then defense tried rehabilitation.
Did Greg intend wife lose home?
“No.”
Did he believe Chloe could repay?
“Yes.”
Did he plan release lien?
“Yes.”
Did he personally spend loan proceeds?
“No.”
Did he profit?
Not directly.
Did he continue supporting children?
Yes.
Did he love wife?
He looked at me.
“Yes.”
I looked away.
Love was not an element.
Then prosecutor returned:
“You planned to repair the lie later?”
“Yes.”
“And until then, whose risk was on the deed?”
He swallowed.
“Hers.”
There.
Trial closed.
Jury deliberated.
While they did, Harbor Crest and title insurer resumed settlement talks.
Everyone smelled certainty coming.
Maybe.
No guarantee.
I spent the day walking along the Charles with my children at school.
No phone in hand.
Arthur promised call.
When it came:
“Verdict.”
I returned.
Greg stood.
Jury foreperson read.
Guilty:
Use of forged/false security instrument.
Fraudulent procurement of secured credit.
Identity-related electronic authentication count.
Conspiracy with Chloe.
Not guilty:
One broader theft/larceny count tied to the full $620,000 because prosecution did not prove he intended to permanently deprive me of property in the way that statute required.
Mixed.
Accurate.
He had not planned to steal my house outright.
He had planned to risk it without permission.
Different crime.
He sat down.
His mother sobbed.
I did not.
The title lien still remained until civil resolution.
May you like
A criminal verdict was not a county-record eraser.
The next hearing started in three days.
