Page 79 of The Facilitator, Part 2

“I loved her, Lauren,” he said, and the sadness in his voice cut right throughme.

“I know you did. She’s poison, Jerry, always has been. Please keep this quiet, forme?”

“I’ve lost everything,” hereplied.

“Listen to me. Mackenzie is working on something. You need to give him a day or so. Will you do that?” I needed Jerry’s confirmation he would stayquiet.

“Why didn’t you tellme?”

“Tell youwhat?”

“Tell me she was conning me?” His tone becameaccusing.

“I didn’t know until just now, Jerry.” It was a small lie but a necessary one. “Tell me whathappened.”

He told me Addison had been advised of a great opportunity, but she didn’t have the required funds. She had sold it to him so well; he had decided to do a joint investment with her. An offshore company was to buy the shares, which would negate a huge tax bill later on. He repeatedly told me he trusted her, they had plans to marry, and he was to move to the U.S. She even met his mum and appeared to charm her. As he spoke, as his voice cracked with emotion, my heart broke forhim.

“I can’t believe how fucking stupid I’ve been,” hesaid.

“She’s very convincing, Jerry, trust me. Will you please stay quiet, don’t alert her to anything just for a couple ofdays?”

“I don’t know. I need to try to get my money back,” hesaid.

I took a deep breath in. “Jerry, think about it. You gave her the money to put into an offshore company that bought the shares. I’m not sure how easy it’s going to be to get anything back. There is no new contract; Mackenzie was telling you the truth. In fact, he’s about to lose the government contract he has. Those shares areworthless.”

Jerry didn’t answer, the only sound was a sharp intake ofbreath.

“Mackenzie is doing what he can to solve this, your part in this isn’t all that has happened. I just need you to give us a day or so before you say anything to her. Do this for me, please, Jerry?” I was up for begging if I hadto.

My fear was if he alerted Addison, she’d obviously tell Daniel, and any hope of retrieving any money from the Grand Cayman would begone.

“Okay. I…I’ve been such a fucking fool and I’m not naïve, I can’t believe I fell for her,” hesaid.

I breathed a sigh of relief. “Do you remember when we first met her? I thought she waswonderful.”

“I don’t know what to do. If I can’t get any money back, I’m skint,Lauren.”

“How much money did you giveher?”

“Nearly twomill.”

“Oh, Jerry,” Isaid.

“Not all for this deal. She showed me a house she wanted us to live in. We were going to get married in a couple of months, we registered and everything. Mum was over the moon for me. She was even pushing for me to move to the States as soon as possible; she planned to come and visit for aholiday.”

Jerry rambled on some more about all the plans he and Addison had. As much as I wanted to tell him he’d only just met her, that would have been hypocritical of me. I’d moved in with Mackenzie within a couple of months of knowinghim.

“Maybe we can get some of it back. Do you have any details of the house she wanted tobuy?”

“She sent me some pictures but no agent’s details. She said it was going to be a private sale. Some old woman wanted to sell up and not give it all to her kids. I havephotographs.”

My heart actually fractured, and I knew what I was going to see before Idid.

“Send them to me, Jerry. You never know, we might be able to find out where it is. Now, let me get hold of Mackenzie. He’s in a meeting about this right now. I’ll call you tomorrow—your tomorrow.Okay?”

“I fucked up big time, didn’tI?”

“No, you didn’t, she did. She’ll fucking pay, trustme.”