Chapter 9: The Station
Officer Davis met them in a small conference room at the back of the station.
A second officer, a woman named Reyes, sat beside him with a laptop open.
Coffee had been left on the table.
Nobody touched it.
Claire laid everything out in order: the loan folder, the addendum, the bank records, the screenshots of the text messages, the transaction histories from both accounts.
Reyes photographed each document.
Davis made notes without looking up.
When Claire finished, Davis set his pen down.
"The forged transfer document is the strongest piece," he said.
"Combined with your hospital records from March fourteenth, that's a clear forgery case.
The unauthorized transfers from your accounts add financial fraud.
The text messages, depending on their origin, may constitute criminal threatening."
"Can you trace the number?" Marcus asked.
"We're working on it.
It's a prepaid." Davis looked at Claire.
"You said the witness on the loan addendum is Derek Mercer.
Julian's brother."
"Yes."
"We'll want to speak with him.
If he witnessed a document he knew contained fraudulent terms, that's a separate exposure for him." He paused.
"I want to be straightforward with you, Ms.
Claire.
Julian's attorney contacted us this morning.
He's claiming the basement situation was a domestic misunderstanding.
He's claiming the transfer document was signed voluntarily and that you are now fabricating a dispute over the property."
Claire's hands were flat on the table.
"He forged my signature."
"I believe you.
The hospital records will confirm your whereabouts.
But I want you to understand that his attorney is already building a counter-narrative.
This will not be resolved today."
"I understand."
"Is there anything else he had access to?
Any account, any document, anything you haven't mentioned?"
Claire thought.
"My mother's estate.
She passed four years ago.
She left me the house and a small investment account.
Julian helped me manage the estate paperwork.
He said he had experience with probate."
Davis and Reyes exchanged a look.
"We'll need the estate documents," Reyes said.
"All of them."
"I have them at home."
"Can you bring them this afternoon?"
"Yes."
Davis leaned forward.
"Ms.
Claire, I want to ask you something directly and I need you to answer honestly.
Is there anything Julian could produce — any document, any recording, anything — that would genuinely create legal problems for you or your brother?"
Claire looked at Marcus.
Then back at Davis.
"No," she said.
"Everything he said last night about Marcus was a threat.
There's nothing real behind it.
Marcus guaranteed a legitimate loan.
That's all."
"You're certain."
"I'm certain."
Davis nodded.
He closed his folder.
"Then here's where we are.
Julian is currently out on his own recognizance pending the investigation.
He is not permitted to contact you directly.
The text messages are a violation of that condition.
When we trace that number, it gives us grounds to move faster." He stood.
"Go home.
Get the estate documents.
Don't answer any calls from unknown numbers.
And Ms.
Claire—"
May you like
She looked up.
"You did the right thing keeping that filing cabinet," he said.
