Chapter 7: Gerald Holt's Office
Gerald Holt's office was on the fourth floor of a building on Broad Street, downtown Columbus.
I had been there once before, the week after Margaret passed, when everything felt like moving through water.
Walking in again felt strange — the same framed diplomas, the same dark wood desk, but a different kind of trouble spread across it.
Gerald stood when we came in.
He shook my hand and then Emily's.
"Thank you for coming in," he said.
"Both of you."
We sat.
Emily had a manila envelope on her lap.
She set it on the desk.
Gerald opened it and went through the photographs one by one.
He didn't rush.
He held two of the pages under his desk lamp and looked at them closely.
"Emily, is this your signature on the equity line application?"
"No."
"You're certain."
"I'm certain."
He set the page down.
"All right." He folded his hands.
"I want to explain what we're looking at.
The unauthorized home equity line, taken against property Walter co-owns without his knowledge or consent, is a civil matter.
We can pursue recovery of those funds.
The forged signature is a separate issue.
That is a crjminal matter.
Those are two different paths and they can run at the same time."
Emily's hands were still in her lap.
"What does the crjminal path look like?"
"It begins with a report to the Columbus Police Department.
Forgery of a financial document is a felony in Ohio.
Once a report is filed, it moves out of our hands and into the prosecutor's office.
I want to be clear about that — once it's filed, you don't control the pace or the outcome."
"I understand."
Gerald looked at her carefully.
"Emily, I have to ask you directly.
Is there any possibility you signed this document and don't remember doing so?"
"No."
"Is there any possibility you gave Jason verbal authorization to sign on your behalf?"
"No."
"All right." He made a note.
"Then I want to move quickly.
I also received a call this morning from a Dennis Hale, who provided me with security footage and documentation regarding an attempted property transfer that was filed eight months ago and suspended by the county recorder.
That application, combined with what you've brought me today, paints a picture of a sustained pattern." He paused.
"Walter, Jason did not make one mistake under pressure.
He made a series of deliberate decisions over at least two years."
I had known it since the night before.
Hearing it said plainly in a quiet office on Broad Street still landed like a weight.
"What do we do first?" I asked.
"Today, I file an emergency motion to freeze any further action on the property — no sales, no transfers, no additional liens.
That protects both of you immediately.
Tomorrow, I'd like Emily to go to the police department and file the forgery report.
I'll have one of my associates go with her." He looked at Emily.
"You won't have to do that alone."
Emily nodded.
"And Jason?" I asked.
"Jason will be served with the civil filing within the week.
At that point, he'll need his own lawyer." Gerald leaned back slightly.
"He may try to negotiate.
He may offer to repay the equity line voluntarily in exchange for Emily not filing the crjminal report.
That is a decision only Emily can make.
I won't tell you what to do.
But I will tell you that voluntary repayment does not erase what he did."
The office was quiet for a moment.
Then Emily said: "File everything."
Gerald looked at her.
"The civil case, the property freeze, and I'll go to the police tomorrow." She picked up her envelope.
"He forged my name.
He stole from my father.
He stood in this house and made my father feel like a burden." Her voice didn't waver.
"File everything."
Gerald nodded once.
"I'll start this afternoon."
We stood to leave.
At the door, Gerald stopped me with a hand on my arm.
"Walter.
Margaret was a careful woman.
The fact that this trust was never dissolved — I don't think that was an oversight."
I looked at him.
"I think she knew," he said quietly.
"I think she wanted to make sure you were always protected."
I didn't say anything.
I just nodded.
May you like
In the elevator going down, Emily took my hand and held it.
We didn't speak until we reached the street.
