A new voice came from the audience.
James Morrison from Wells Fargo stood up.
“Ms. Josephine Drexler paid cash through her LLC. We have all the documentation. In fact, Mrs. Eleanor Drexler, we need to discuss your recent loan application regarding this property.”
The ballroom went silent.
800 people leaned forward.
Eleanor’s face went from red to white.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“The $500,000 home equity loan you applied for yesterday using a property you don’t own as collateral. That loan application with forged signatures.”
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
Phones came out.
The live stream comments exploded.
“Ma’am,” one of the security guards said quietly, “we need you to remain here. Law enforcement is on the way.”
Marcus finally stood up.
“Mom, what did you do?”
But everyone already knew.
Eleanor Drexler had just confessed to fraud in front of 800 witnesses and a live stream audience of thousands.
James Morrison walked to the stage with a folder.
“With the property owner’s permission, I’d like to share something with this assembly.”
I nodded.
