Chapter 4 - The Insurance Investigator’s VisitIt was a cold Tuesday afternoon when a sleek black sedan pulled into the parking lot of the dental clinic where I worked. A man in a sharp charcoal suit stepped out, holding a leather portfolio, and walked straight through the glass doors.
“Excuse me,” he said, flashing a laminated badge to the front desk. “I’m Investigator Thomas Vance with Apex Mutual Insurance. I’m looking for the sister of Mrs. Victoria Sterling.”
My heart skipped a beat, but I kept my composure, stepping out from behind the counter. “I’m her sister. What is this about?”
Investigator Vance looked around the modest waiting room before fixing his sharp, analytical gaze on me. “Mrs. Sterling filed a high-value property claim two months ago. She claimed that during a Thanksgiving dinner dispute, an antique, one-of-a-kind gallery art piece valued at three thousand five hundred dollars was maliciously destroyed by a family guest.”
He paused, opening his leather portfolio and pulling out a glossy photograph of the blue-and-silver vase resting on the sideboard.
“We spoke with several witnesses, including your cousin,” Vance continued, his tone dry and professional. “And we received conflicting statements regarding the provenance of the item. Your sister provided an authenticity certificate from a boutique gallery in downtown Columbus. However, our preliminary checks show that gallery went out of business five years ago, and their registry contains no record of this item.”
I reached into my work bag, pulled out the heavy manila folder, and slid it across the counter.
“You won't find it in any gallery registry,” I said calmly. “Because it was purchased at a liquidator clearance outlet in Columbus three years ago. Here is the original wholesale manufacturer catalog, the SKU number, and the receipt history showing the exact retail price of fourteen dollars and ninety-nine cents.”
May you like
Vance stared at the documents in absolute silence. He flipped through the pages, examining the UPC barcode, the manufacturer stamp, and the clear photographic proof.
A slow, knowing smile touched the corners of his mouth. “Insurance fraud involving inflated property claims carries severe legal penalties, Mrs. Sterling,” he murmured, closing the folder. “And when combined with a fraudulent police report... well, let’s just say your sister is about to have a very difficult year.”
