Chapter 7: The Witness He Forgot
Daniel enlarged the photograph on the conference-room screen.
“That signature was lifted from the hospital admission form,” I said.
Mom leaned closer.
“It was signed at 6:42 this morning.”
“The notary stamp says 6:50,” Daniel replied.
“Paige was in delivery.”
Evelyn called security.
“Find Gavin before he leaves the building.”
“He’s already gone,” the guard said through the speaker.
“His key card registered at the garage.”
Elena’s phone rang.
She read the caller’s name and held it up.
“It’s Gavin.”
“Answer on speaker,” I said.
His voice came through calmly.
“Elena, bring me the blue folder and delete the recording.
I’ll put the St.
Paul house in your name.”
“It should already be mine.”
“Do this, and I won’t seek custody of Noah.”
“You barely know his teacher’s name.”
“I know judges.
Think carefully.”
Daniel pointed toward the recorder on the table, and Evelyn pressed the red button.
Elena swallowed.
“And if I refuse?”
“I’ll say you created Northline and stole the money.
Your signature is on every filing.”
“You forged it.”
“Prove that.”
He ended the call.
Elena lowered the phone.
Her knees gave slightly, and Mom guided her into a chair.
“I brought him into Noah’s life,” Elena whispered.
“I kept telling my son his father worked hard for us.”
I took her hand.
“You believed your husband.
So did I.”
“What do I tell Noah?”
“Tell him the painful truth—that his father lied, but none of it was his fault.”
The boardroom door opened.
A woman in a green coat stood beside the security guard.
“My name is Marisol Vega,” she said.
“I was Gavin’s executive assistant.”
Evelyn gestured toward a chair.
“What do you know about the missing archive?”
“Gavin ordered me to erase it last night.”
Daniel stood.
“Did you?”
Marisol removed a small drive from her coat pocket.
“I copied it first.”
“Why?”
“Three months ago, I saw him copying Paige’s signature.
He told me I would lose my pension if I spoke.”
I looked at the drive.
“What is on it?”
“Northline transfers, altered loan papers, and emails to the notary.
There’s also a video from the accounting office.”
Evelyn connected the drive.
Gavin appeared on-screen scanning my signature and attaching it to a document.
His recorded voice was clear.
“Once the baby arrives, Paige will be too tired to check anything.”
Elena covered her mouth.
Mom tightened her hand around my shoulder.
Marisol placed an access log beside Daniel.
“Gavin used Paige’s credentials at 2:13.
The security camera shows him entering the office alone.”
Daniel called the county financial investigator.
“We have the original server archive, video evidence, and a witness.”
A reply came through the speaker.
“Do not let anyone alter those files.
We’re sending officers to secure the office.”
Marisol turned to me.
“I’m sorry I waited.”
“You came before it was too late.”
My phone rang from an unknown number.
Gavin spoke before I could say hello.
“You have something that belongs to me.”
“No, Gavin.
You lost access to the company.”
“I’m not talking about the company.”
A car door slammed behind his voice.
May you like
“I’m outside Elena’s sister’s house,” he said.
“Tell her to bring me that drive—or I leave with Noah.”
