Chapter 4: The Signature That Could Destroy Us
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Marcus stood beside me, staring at the photograph in Mr. Reed's hand.
His signature was unmistakable.
The same distinctive curve beneath the letter H. The same sharp line through the final S.
I had seen it hundreds of times.
On birthday cards.
On Christmas presents.
On the mortgage documents for the apartment we once planned to buy together.
But now it was sitting beneath a bank transfer authorization involving nearly four hundred thousand dollars.
“That's not possible,” Marcus finally said.
Mr. Reed placed the photograph on the table.
“The document indicates that you authorized the transfer of $385,000 from the Hayes family investment account to a private company registered under your mother's name.””
Marcus shook his head.
“I never transferred that money.””
“Then you'll need to explain why your signature appears here.””
“I don't know!””
His voice cracked.
I watched him carefully.
Part of me wanted to believe him.
The man standing in front of me had once driven forty minutes through a snowstorm because I mentioned craving a particular kind of soup.
He had sat beside my hospital bed when I had food poisoning.
He had memorized the name of every colleague I complained about at work.
But he had also watched his mother throw wine in my face.
And he had admitted knowing about the fraudulent agreement.
I no longer knew which version of him was real.
Mr. Reed closed the folder.
“There's another detail. The transfer was made shortly before Robert discovered irregularities in the account.””
Marcus looked up.
“What happened after that?””
“Your father requested a meeting with the bank. Two days later, he suffered a medical emergency.””
My stomach tightened.
“Are you suggesting someone caused his death?”” I asked.
Mr. Reed immediately shook his head.
“No. I'm saying the timing deserves careful examination. We have no evidence connecting the medical emergency to the financial activity.””
Marcus sat down.
His face had gone completely pale.
“Dad never told me about any of this.””
I looked at him.
“Did you ever give your mother access to your bank information?””
He frowned.
“What?””
“Your passwords. Your signature. Any blank documents.””
He rubbed his face.
“Years ago, when I started working at the company, she helped organize my financial accounts. She handled some paperwork.””
“Did you sign blank forms?””
He hesitated.
“Maybe.””
I closed my eyes.
“Marcus.””
“I was twenty-six. She said it was routine.””
Mr. Reed looked interested.
“Do you remember signing any authorization documents around that time?””
Marcus shook his head.
“No. But she had access to my old business files.””
A terrible possibility began forming in my mind.
Someone might have copied his signature.
Someone who knew him well.
Someone who had access to every document he had ever signed.
His mother.
Before I could say anything, the front door opened.
Diane walked into the room holding a small leather handbag.
Her expression had changed.
The tears were gone.
The panic had disappeared.
She looked composed again, almost elegant.
“Richard,” she said, “I believe we've had enough of this ridiculous investigation.””
Mr. Reed stood.
“Diane, we need you to provide access to the remaining financial records.””
She ignored him.
Instead, she looked at Marcus.
“Come upstairs. We need to talk.””
Marcus didn't move.
“Not until you explain the transfer.””
Her expression hardened.
“I've already explained everything.””
“No, you haven't.””
She looked at me.
“This is what happens when you allow outsiders into family matters.””
I laughed without humor.
“Your family matters became my business when someone forged my signature.””
Diane stepped closer.
“You have no idea what you're talking about.””
“Then tell me why my name was on that agreement.””
She tilted her head.
“Because you were never supposed to have access to the family assets.””
“I'm not asking for your assets.””
“You will be. Women like you always are.””
Marcus stood.
“Stop talking about her like that!””
Diane stared at him.
For the first time, her son had raised his voice without immediately apologizing.
She looked almost offended.
“Excuse me?””
“You heard me.””
“I sacrificed everything for you.””
“And you expect me to thank you for stealing money?””
Her mouth opened.
Then she looked at Mr. Reed.
“Get out of my house.””
Mr. Reed calmly placed another document on the table.
“It's not your house, Diane.””
Her face went white.
“Don't you dare.””
“The trust administrator has instructed us to secure the property records today. You'll receive formal instructions concerning continued occupancy.””
Diane snatched the document.
She read the first paragraph.
Then dropped it.
“You cannot evict me!””
“No one has said that today. We are simply establishing the legal position.””
She turned toward Marcus.
“Do something!””
He stared at her.
“I can't.””
“Can't?””
“You put me in this situation.””
Diane's eyes filled with tears.
Then she said something I would remember for the rest of my life.
“I did everything because your father wanted to leave the company to Nia.””
Silence.
Marcus looked at her.
“What?””
She immediately covered her mouth.
Mr. Reed slowly straightened.
“Diane, would you like to repeat that?””
She looked toward the door.
I felt my heartbeat pounding in my ears.
“Leave the company to me?”” I whispered.
Diane glared at me.
“Not everything is about you.””
“But you just said—”
“I said nothing!””
Marcus stepped toward her.
“Mom, what did Dad leave to Nia?””
She shook her head.
“Nothing. Forget it.””
Mr. Reed reached into his folder.
“Actually, there is a separate document concerning the controlling interest in Hayes Development.””
Marcus turned.
“What controlling interest?””
The attorney's representative opened the document.
“Robert's final estate instructions transferred a significant portion of the voting shares into the protection trust.””
I stared.
“Why would he do that?””
Mr. Reed looked at me.
“Because Robert believed the company needed independent oversight.””
Marcus slowly sat down again.
“And who controls the trust?””
Mr. Reed paused.
“Nia does.””
Diane let out a strangled laugh.
Then she pointed at me.
“You see? This was his plan all along!””
I looked at her.
“What plan?””
“To replace me!””
Before anyone could respond, her phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
Her expression changed instantly.
She declined the call.
A second later, a message appeared.
I wasn't trying to read it.
But the screen lit up directly in front of me.
*UNKNOWN NUMBER: You told me the wedding would be stopped. If Nia gets the documents, we're both finished.*
Diane quickly turned the phone facedown.
Too late.
I had already seen it.
I looked at her.
“Who is that?””
She clutched her handbag.
“None of your business.””
Mr. Reed stepped forward.
“Diane, I strongly recommend you preserve all communications relating to the estate.””
She stared at him.
Then she looked at Marcus.
And whispered:
“Your father should never have trusted that woman.””
But before she could leave, Marcus spoke.
“Mom, who helped you forge the document?””
Diane stopped.
Her back remained turned.
For several seconds, I thought she wouldn't answer.
Then she slowly looked over her shoulder.
And smiled.
“You really want to know, sweetheart?””
She reached into her handbag.
“Then ask your wife where she was the night your father died.””
My blood ran cold.
May you like
Because I had never told Marcus about the last conversation I had with Robert.
And I had certainly never told Diane.
