Chapter 5: The Signature That Wasn’t Mine
Rachel came with me to Martin’s lawyer’s office.
Lily wanted to join us, but I made her stay at school with Annie.
Martin sat across the conference table beside a gray-haired attorney named Mr.
Pike.
“You forged my signature,” I said.
Martin leaned back.
“Be careful with accusations.”
“I didn’t sign that guarantee.”
Mr.
Pike slid a document toward me.
“Mrs.
Carter, this was witnessed and notarized.”
“By whom?”
“June Mercer.
She worked for your husband’s company.”
“I don’t remember her.”
Martin folded his hands.
“You barely remember that week.
I arranged the funeral, brought meals, and saved Daniel’s business from collapse.”
“You also hid his daughter.”
“I kept one mistake from destroying three lives.”
Rachel struck the table with her palm.
“You took money meant for Annie.”
“You cannot prove that account belonged to her.”
She pulled Daniel’s letter from her bag.
“His own words prove it.”
“A private letter is not a trust instrument,” Mr.
Pike said.
“And the alleged original is missing.”
Martin looked at me.
“Drop this, and I’ll withdraw the property claim.”
“What do you want?”
“Every photograph Lily took, the recording from yesterday, Daniel’s letters, and Rachel’s agreement never to contact you again.”
Rachel shook her head.
“No.”
Martin turned to her.
“Then she may lose her home because of you.”
“You did this,” I said.
“Not Rachel.”
“I’m offering you a way out.”
I pushed the guarantee back.
“I want the original examined.”
Mr.
Pike placed it in his briefcase.
“That request must come through counsel.”
The office door opened.
A silver-haired woman carrying a cardboard file box stepped inside.
“June,” Martin said.
“You’re not part of this meeting.”
“I know.” She set the box beside me.
“That’s why I waited until you lied.”
Mr.
Pike stood.
“Ms.
Mercer, anything belonging to the company must be returned.”
“These belong to me.” June removed a small recorder.
“Martin made me witness Mrs.
Carter’s signature after he traced it from an insurance form.”
Martin’s chair scraped back.
“You accepted money to notarize it.”
“I accepted money because you told me her house would be protected.
Then you fired me when I asked where the trust funds went.”
She pressed a button.
Martin’s recorded voice filled the room: “Use the insurance signature.
She won’t question anything while she’s grieving.”
Mr.
Pike looked at Martin.
“You told me she signed in person.”
“It’s edited.”
June placed three bank statements on the table.
“Are these edited too?”
I read the account heading aloud.
“Lily and Annie Carter Education Trust.”
Rachel covered her mouth.
The first statement showed more than two hundred thousand dollars.
The last showed almost nothing.
“Where did it go?” I asked.
June pointed to a transfer.
“Martin’s development company.”
Mr.
Pike stepped away from his client.
“I was not informed of this.”
Martin snatched for the recorder, but June pulled it against her chest.
“You bitter old woman,” he said.
“No one will believe you.”
“I kept the original payroll server,” June answered.
“It contains every transfer authorization.”
Martin turned to me.
“Daniel approved those transfers before he passed away.”
“Then why forge my signature afterward?”
He opened his mouth, but his phone rang.
He glanced at the screen and smiled.
“You should answer yours,” he said.
My phone began vibrating.
It was Lily.
“Mom,” she cried when I answered.
May you like
“Martin sent people to the house.
They’re changing the locks.”
