Chapter 9: The Forgery and the Witness
The forensic examiner's name was Dr.
Pauline Voss.
She was sixty-one years old, semi-retired, and had testified in thirty-four court cases involving questioned documents.
Grace had worked with her twice before and described her as someone who did not speculate.
On the third day, Dr.
Voss called Grace at 9 a.m.
Grace called Emma at 9:04.
"The notary stamp on the Robert Ashworth estate transfer documents is fraudulent," Grace said.
"The office it references — Meridian Notary Services — closed in March of 2019.
The documents are dated September 2019.
Dr.
Voss also found pressure inconsistencies in the witness signature.
It was signed with a different pen than the rest of the document, and the ink composition is different."
Emma sat down.
"The transfers were forged," she said.
"Yes.
Which means Margaret's control of the Ashworth estate was obtained through fraudulent documents.
Every asset transfer she made after Robert's death — the six hundred thousand dollars, the Delaware holding company, everything — was made using authority she was never legally given."
"And Daniel's transfers to Olivia?"
"Made by the actual heir.
Completely valid." Grace paused.
"Emma, this isn't a family dispute anymore.
This is fraud.
Potentially criminal fraud."
"What do we do?"
"I've already contacted the district attorney's office.
They want to meet this afternoon." Grace's voice was careful.
"But there's something else.
Dr.
Voss found a second anomaly.
The witness signature on the forged document — she ran it against a database of known signatures from other court filings in the county."
"And?"
"It matches a signature from a 2018 property filing.
The name on that filing is Gerald Marsh."
Emma didn't recognize the name.
"Who is Gerald Marsh?"
"He was Robert Ashworth's personal attorney for twenty-two years.
He retired in 2020." Grace paused.
"He lives in Scottsdale now.
I called him this morning."
"You called him?"
"I told him we had a forensic match on his signature and that the district attorney would likely be contacting him within the week.
I asked him if he wanted to speak with me first."
"What did he say?"
Grace was quiet for a moment.
"He said he'd been waiting for someone to call."
Emma pressed her hand flat against the table.
"He knew."
"He was there.
Margaret came to him in the week after Robert died.
She told him Robert had intended to transfer control to her but hadn't had time to formalize it.
She asked him to help her make it right." Grace's voice was even.
"He said he told himself it was what Robert would have wanted.
He said he told himself that for five years."
"But he kept the records."
"Everything.
The original unsigned documents.
Emails from Margaret.
A handwritten note from the meeting.
He kept all of it." Grace paused.
"He said he kept it because he knew, eventually, someone would need it."
Emma was quiet for a long time.
Outside, a car passed.
Somewhere down the street, a dog barked twice and stopped.
"When does this go to the DA?" Emma asked.
"The meeting is at two o'clock.
I'd like you and Daniel both present."
"I'll call Daniel."
"Emma." Grace's voice shifted slightly.
"Prepare him.
This is no longer about protecting Olivia's school placement.
When those documents go to the DA, Margaret Ashworth will likely be facing criminal charges.
Document fraud.
Potentially elder financial abuse, given that Robert was seventy-four and in declining health when this happened." A pause.
"Daniel needs to understand what he's walking into."
"He'll understand," Emma said.
She called Daniel.
He answered on the first ring, as if he'd been holding the phone.
She told him everything.
The forged notary stamp.
The ink.
Gerald Marsh.
The DA meeting.
He didn't speak for almost thirty seconds.
"She forged my father's estate documents," he said finally.
"Yes."
"While he was dying."
"Yes."
Another silence.
Longer.
"I'll be there at two," he said.
His voice was very quiet and very certain.
"I'll be there."
At 2:00 p.m., Emma, Daniel, and Grace sat across from Assistant District Attorney Karen Lyle in a conference room on the third floor of the county courthouse.
Dr.
Voss's report was on the table.
Gerald Marsh's documents were in a separate folder beside it.
ADA Lyle read for eleven minutes without speaking.
Then she looked up.
"Mr.
Ashworth," she said.
"Are you prepared to cooperate fully with this investigation, including providing access to all estate financial records?"
"Yes," Daniel said.
"And Mr.
Marsh — he's willing to testify?"
"He is," Grace said.
ADA Lyle closed the folder.
"Then I think we have enough to open a formal investigation." She looked at Emma.
"Ms.
Reyes.
Your daughter's transfers and school placement — we'll be filing a motion to confirm their legal standing as part of the protective order.
That should be in place by end of week."
Emma nodded.
She didn't trust herself to say anything.
"One more question," ADA Lyle said.
She looked at both of them.
"Does Margaret Ashworth know you have the Marsh documents?"
"No," Grace said.
ADA Lyle nodded slowly.
May you like
"Good.
Let's keep it that way until we're ready."
