Page 50 of Witness To Murder
“Mr. Bechel?” Owen asked.
“That’s me.” He smoothed back the strands of hair that were sticking up as if he’d run his hand through repeatedly.
“I’m Owen Walker. This is Leah Gerard. We’re here about the Douglas life insurance policy,” he explained. “I’ve left you several voicemails.”
“Ah, yes.” He nodded, the movement exaggerated. “Sorry, it’s been really busy.”
“May we come in?” Leah asked when he made no offer.
“Ah, sure, sure.” He backed up, rounded his desk and smiled in welcome. “Come on in and have a seat.”
Leah sat down, but Owen remained standing. He braced his hands on the back of the other chair.
“So, how can I help you?” He looked from Leah to Owen and back. “You’re one of the beneficiaries,” he said to Leah.
“Yes.”
“I,” Owen interjected, “would like to know how my fiancée ended up being added to this man’s insurance policy.”
Leah stared at him. His statement startled her, but she recovered quickly. A great cover for the question.
Bechel’s eyebrows shot up. “Well, now, I can’t tell you the reason, because I have no idea. I met Mr. Douglas a few times. He took out the policy ten years ago. Right here in the office. But when he changed the beneficiaries, he did that online. He ordered a form for updating. It was mailed to his address of record. He filled it out, signed it and sent it back.”
“Was it notarized?” Owen asked.
Bechel shook his head slowly, hesitantly. “We don’t require that.” He frowned. “If there is some question about whether this was an authorized update by the policy owner, then we’ll have to look into it.”
“But anyone could have requested the forms as long as they had access to his account,” Owen argued.
“Well, I suppose so. But we compared the signatures to the original application. We always do that, and it looked proper. My secretary called to confirm. Those are our safeguards.” He turned to Leah then. “I’m sure you’re aware there won’t be a payout until the homicide investigation is complete. But once all is sorted out, we’ll get the money to you.”
She held up her hands. “I understand. I’m just trying to figure out how this happened.”
“You’ll have to overlook my surprise. We rarely have a beneficiary come in with a question like that. Generally, they’re very happy to be receiving money.”
The man had no idea. “I understand there are two beneficiaries,” Leah said. “What happens if one of them dies before the payout? What happens to the money?”
His gaze narrowed. “Well, there are two beneficiaries, and the benefits are fifty-fifty, as specified by the policy owner. If one of the beneficiaries passes away before distribution, the full amount of the policy payout will go to the remaining beneficiary.” He held up his hands in surrender fashion. “I’m a little uncomfortable discussing this aspect of the benefits with you. Perhaps we should call Detective Lambert and make him aware of your concerns.”
“Detective Lambert is well aware of our concerns,” Owen said. “He was at the scene last night when someone made an attempt on Leah’s life.”
Bechel drew back. “Oh my. This has been a terrible, terrible situation. But I will leave it to the authorities to handle whatever is going on. Please take care of yourself, Ms. Gerard. Rest assured that the underwriters at Patriot Insurance are safeguarding the benefits Mr. Douglas purchased.”
Leah stood, her legs a little wobbly. She really did need to rest, but how could she? Someone had tried to kill her, and that someone was still out there!
They were out of the office and back in the elevator, headed down, before she worked up the nerve to say, “I was surprised to hear you’d proposed.” She laughed, tapped her temple. “I guess I lost that memory with this concussion.”
Owen chuckled. “I thought about it all night while you were lying in that hospital bed.”
“You were in that bed with me,” she teased.
“This is true.” He grinned.
“So you were busy thinking while I was sleeping.” Her own grin tugged at her lips.
“It was either that or stare at you, and that may have caused issues.”
Leah nodded. “I see.”
