The Deed That Silenced Thirty People

Tasha stared at the envelope in Nicole's hand as if it were a loaded weapon.

“Where did you get that?”” she whispered.

Nicole didn't answer immediately. She placed the envelope on the kitchen island, keeping one hand on top of it.

“Before I give you anything, I need to establish something clearly. Have you signed any document authorizing Robert Carter to represent you in a property transaction?””

Tasha wiped her cheeks with the heel of her palm.

“No.””

“Have you signed anything authorizing him to represent Marcus Bennett or Bennett Residential Holdings?””

“No!””

Her answer came so quickly that I almost believed her.

Almost.

I leaned against the counter, looking at the woman who had shared my bed, my meals, and four years of my life.

“Then why did his message say something about a signature?””

Tasha shook her head.

“I don't know.””

“Look at me.””

She hesitated before meeting my eyes.

“Marcus, I swear I don't know what he's talking about.””

Nicole removed a folded sheet of paper from her briefcase.

“Mr. Carter sent this to my office after I declined his initial request. He claimed the proposed transaction had your approval. When I asked him to provide the original authorization, he sent a scanned copy instead.””

She unfolded the paper.

It contained a typed statement authorizing preliminary discussions concerning a property owned by Bennett Residential Holdings. At the bottom was a signature bearing my name.

I recognized the shape immediately.

It looked like mine.

The first letter was tall and narrow. The final stroke curved beneath the surname.

But I had never signed that document.

I took the page from Nicole.

“Where's the original?””

“Mr. Carter said it was in the possession of the person who arranged the transaction.””

I looked up.

“Who arranged it?””

“That's what I was trying to establish when you asked me to bring the documents here.””

Tasha moved toward the hallway.

“I need some air.””

“Stay here,” I said.

She froze.

Then she turned, her eyes flashing.

“You don't give me orders!””

“Then stop walking away every time I ask you a question.””

“You're treating me like a criminal!””

“I haven't accused you of anything. I'm asking you to explain a document with my signature on it that I never signed.””

She pressed both hands against her chest.

“I don't know anything about that paper!””

Nicole studied her carefully.

“Ms. Williams, I need you to understand that I am not accusing you of forging anything. But I do need an honest account of your dealings with Mr. Carter.””

Tasha looked at the floor.

“I met him through someone at work.””

“When?”” Nicole asked.

“About two months ago.””

“Where?””

“At a networking event downtown.””

“What did you discuss?””

Tasha's eyes flicked toward me.

“Real estate.””

I gave a humorless laugh.

“Of course.””

“Don't do that,” she snapped.

“You don't know what happened.””

“Then tell me.””

She swallowed.

“Robert said he helped people get into property investments. He knew I lived here, and I told him you owned a construction company. He said there might be a way for us to build something together.””

“Something together?”” I repeated.

“Yes.””

“Using a property you don't own?””

“I never said that!””

“You just admitted you discussed my property with him.””

“Because I wanted to understand our options!””

Nicole raised one hand.

“Let's slow down. Did you give Mr. Carter any documents concerning the house?””

Tasha hesitated.

That hesitation changed the room.

I straightened.

“Tasha?””

She rubbed her forehead.

“He asked for the property address.””

“And?””

“I gave it to him.””

“Anything else?””

She didn't answer.

Nicole's expression hardened.

“Ms. Williams, did you provide him with copies of any ownership documents, financial statements, or identification belonging to Marcus?””

“No.””

The answer was firm.

Then she added, “I gave him a copy of a property tax notice.””

I stared at her.

“Why?””

“He said he needed it to estimate the property's value.””

“You gave a stranger my tax notice?””

“He wasn't a stranger! We had been talking for weeks!””

“About what? Selling my house?””

“Not selling it!””

“Then what?””

Tasha grabbed the back of a chair.

“Robert said there was a way to refinance the property and use the equity to purchase another investment. He told me that couples did it all the time.””

I felt my jaw tighten.

“Did he tell you the property belonged to my company?””

She looked away.

“Yes.””

“And you still gave him the documents?””

“I thought it was something we could discuss!””

“You discussed it with him before discussing it with me.””

“I knew you'd say no!””

The words burst out of her before she could stop them.

Silence followed.

I looked at her for a long moment.

There it was.

Not a misunderstanding. Not a misplaced document. Not a harmless business inquiry.

She had expected me to refuse, so she had gone looking for another way.

“What were you planning to do if I said no?”” I asked.

She shook her head.

“Nothing.””

“You just told me you knew I'd say no.””

“I didn't know what Robert was planning.””

“But you knew enough to keep it from me.””

Tasha's eyes filled again.

“Marcus, please. I wanted us to have something of our own.””

“We already had something. We had a relationship.””

“That isn't enough for me!””

“Then you should have told me.””

“I was afraid you'd never take the next step!””

I glanced at Nicole.

She remained silent, allowing the conversation to unfold without interference.

Tasha stepped closer.

“Every time my friends talked about engagements, houses, and investments, I had nothing to say. You kept telling me to wait. I wanted to show people that I wasn't wasting my time.””

“So you tried to prove your commitment by risking my property?””

“I didn't think it would go this far!””

I looked down at the forged-looking signature again.

“Neither did I.””

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then Nicole opened the envelope bearing Tasha's name.

Inside was a printed email, several pages of correspondence, and a copy of an identification document.

“I received this yesterday,” she explained.

“Mr. Carter forwarded it after I told him the transaction could not proceed without verified authorization.””

Tasha stared at the papers.

“Why would he send you that?””

“Because he wanted me to accept the transaction as legitimate.””

Nicole turned the first page toward me.

The email was addressed to Robert Carter from an account bearing Tasha's name.

Its subject line read: *Property Transfer — Next Steps.*

I began reading.

The message stated that Marcus Bennett was reluctant to approve the proposed arrangement but that the parties could proceed once the necessary authorization was obtained.

At the bottom was a sentence that made my hands go cold.

I've attached the signature sample you requested. Please make sure everything is ready before he changes his mind.

I read it again.

Then I looked at Tasha.

“Did you write this?””

She stared at the page.

“I didn't send that email.””

“Is that your email address?””

“Yes, but I didn't write it.””

“Who did?””

“I don't know!””

Nicole turned the page.

“There is also a message in which Mr. Carter asks whether you have access to Marcus's signed documents.””

Tasha's face drained of color.

I felt something inside me settle into a terrible kind of clarity.

“Did you give him a sample of my signature?””

“No.””

“Did you photograph any of my documents?””

“No!””

“Did you take anything from my office?””

She opened her mouth, then closed it.

I stepped toward her.

“Tasha, I need you to answer me honestly. Did you take something from my office?””

Her eyes darted toward the stairs.

That was all the answer I needed to know she was hiding something.

Nicole gently closed the envelope.

“Marcus, I recommend that we preserve these documents and let the appropriate professionals investigate how the signature and email were obtained. We shouldn't make assumptions before the facts are established.””

I nodded.

Then I looked at Tasha.

“You have until tomorrow morning to tell me everything you know about Robert Carter.””

She stared at me as if I had slapped her.

“Tomorrow morning?””

“Yes.””

“And if I don't?””

“Then I'll let the investigation proceed without your explanation.””

She covered her mouth.

“You can't be serious.””

“I've never been more serious in my life.””

I turned toward the door.