Chapter 4 - THE APPRAISAL
The appraisal was partially real.
That made it worse.
Three years earlier, Claire had taken the necklace to Sterling & Rowe Jewelers for:
cleaning,
clasp repair,
insurance update.
Daniel went with her.
The jeweler estimated replacement value:
$285,000.
Not $410,000.
The photograph in North Coast’s file came from Sterling & Rowe.
How?
Daniel had emailed the jeweler later asking for “a clean copy for family insurance records.”
They sent the photo and report.
Then someone edited:
the valuation,
the date,
and the ownership description.
Original:
Owner: Claire Bennett Carter, inherited from Evelyn Bennett.
Altered:
Owners: Daniel and Claire Carter, marital personal property.
Rachel stared.
“Not subtle.”
Claire almost laughed.
“It worked.”
It had.
North Coast relied partly on other collateral too.
But the necklace made the package stronger.
Then forensic metadata showed the altered PDF had been created on Daniel’s office computer.
His attorney would later argue staff access.
May you like
Possible.
But more evidence was coming.
