Unable to endure his wife’s funeral, the man hurried away early from the cemetery…
Monday—accident day and day of finding suitable replacement. Too many coincidences. «Elijah, can see this unknown woman somehow? Or at least photos left?» «Unfortunately, buried her in common grave for unidentified.
Procedure Tuesday morning, per law.» Tuesday morning—exactly when Alex was shown his supposedly dead wife’s body in same morgue. «Thanks, Elijah.
You helped my investigation a lot.» «No problem, Brian. Just be careful.
If really something criminal involved, serious people participating. Forging official medical docs—top-level fraud.» «Understand.
Will be extremely careful.» «And remembered one more detail. Those two who brought body—one introduced as doctor.
Doctor Ortiz, I think. Said personally knew deceased, works in medical field.» «Ortiz? You sure of name?» «Absolutely.»
Brian noted this key info. The circle was closing, but all threads led to same people. While Brian worked at morgue, Alex thoroughly gathered info on Olivia’s relatives.
He never before delved into their personal lives, but now every detail could be critical for understanding crime motives. Mary Victoria Kuznetsov, 45, worked as chief accountant at mid-size construction firm «BuildInvest.» Married to David Kuznetsov, who dealt in wholesale auto parts.
No own business, worked as sales manager at large company. Couple never had kids; Mary couldn’t after failed surgery in youth, always painful topic for her. Lived in two-bedroom in old panel building, car used Toyota Camry 2016.
But digging deeper, Alex found interesting details. David took large loan year ago for business development that never launched.
Monthly payments ate big chunk of family budget. Mary lately moonlighted remotely evenings and weekends. Paul Isaac Ortiz, 52, therapist top category.
After divorce 4 years ago lived alone, rented one-bedroom in bedroom community. Officially worked two places: city clinic and private medical center «Health Plus,» but incomes modest. From mutual acquaintances, Ortiz had serious financial troubles.
Loan debts from marriage, alimony to ex-wife, rent—all ate almost whole salary. Last months even moonlighted private house calls—Vladimir and Gregory Kuznetsov, Olivia’s cousins on father’s side. Both about 40, both had law troubles in youth: petty thefts, fights, hooliganism.
Vladimir even served 8 months for assault in drunken brawl. Vladimir worked taxi driver at small private company, unstable low income. Gregory loader at grocery warehouse, salary also small.
Both lived in shared apartments, no families, led pretty marginal lives. Alex noted all info in notebook, trying to understand psychology of each potential criminal. All relatives lived modestly, many had serious financial difficulties.
Large inheritance from Grandpa Nicholas could radically change their lives, solve all money problems forever. But for money were they ready for such monstrous crime? Staging death of close person requires not just greed, but total lack of conscience. Around eight evening Mary called him.
Her voice habitually caring, but now Alex caught false notes. «Alex, how are things? How’s your mood? Not too hard alone?» «Fine, Mary. Trying to hold on as I can.»
«Good for you, dear. Olivia wouldn’t want you suffering. Life goes on.
Listen, maybe come over weekends? David will grill steaks, we’ll sit, talk heart to heart.» «Thanks for caring, but not ready for company yet. Better stay home.»
«I understand, grief is serious trial. But seclusion no solution either. By the way, you have all Olivia’s personal docs? Certificates, bank cards?» Alex alerted.
Second time she asks about docs. And why now? «Yes, of course. Why do you need them?» «Well, need to handle inheritance matters from Grandpa Nicholas urgently.
Time passed enough, and bureaucratic procedures very long.» «Grandpa left will where Olivia main heir.» «And don’t I have right to share in this inheritance as spouse?» Mary paused several seconds.
And in that pause Alex caught something important. «Of course you do, dear. But such complex legal nuances, such bureaucratic hassle.
You trust us to handle it, right?» «Trust,» Alex lied. «But docs wait for now. Too early, not even a week after funeral.»
«Alex, but longer we drag, harder and costlier procedures.» «Inheritance there serious, big house in prime Riverton area, land plot, bank accounts.» «Need to format fast, before other claimants appear.»
«What other claimants?» «Who knows. Distant relatives, Grandpa’s neighbors, acquaintances. Always people claiming deceased promised them something or verbally willed.
You know how greedy for others’ goods now.» «Better format quick by law, no problems later.» «Mary, you personally saw the will? Or just heard of it?» «Of course saw.
Grandpa showed copy in life. Clearly states main heir Olivia, and if she dies, property split equally among other relatives. Understand?» «Good, I’ll think about docs.
But don’t rush me.» «Won’t rush, of course. Just remember, time is money, and officials love artificial delays…»
After talk Alex immediately called Brian. «They’re rushing inheritance matters hard. Mary asked for Olivia’s docs again, talks urgency.»
«Naturally. Need to legalize fast before anyone suspects true state.» «What did you tell her?» «Said I’ll think, but too early.»
«Right tactic. Drag time, but not too obviously.» «By the way, at morgue I found something very interesting.»
Brian detailed his visit to pathologist, oddities with body, unknown woman, and that Ortiz personally involved in delivery. «So they really switched bodies,» Alex summed grimly. «And all planned ahead.»
«Exactly.» «Alex, picture clearing, but need even stronger irrefutable proof.» «Tomorrow I go to Riverton, check accident circumstances and study Grandpa Nicholas’s will.»
«And me?» «Continue as usual. And try casually learn from relatives more details on will: who drafted, where original stored, exact inheritance amount, who else knows content.» «What if they suspect?» «Be natural…
