Chapter 7: ## Chapter 7: The Dead Man's Signature
For several seconds, nobody: The Dead Man's Signature
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
My uncle had been dead for seven years spoke.
My uncle had been dead for seven years.
I remembered his funeral clearly:.
I remembered his funeral clearly: the rain tapping against black umbrellas, my father's hand gripping mine, and the rain tapping against black umbrellas, my father's hand gripping mine, and my mother's photograph resting beside the flowers. Uncle Peter had been my mother's my mother's photograph resting beside the flowers. Uncle Peter had been my mother's older brother, the one who taught me to ride a bicycle and slipped older brother, the one who taught me to ride a bicycle and slipped chocolate into my schoolbag chocolate into my schoolbag when I was sad.
He had died suddenly in a car accident on his way home from work.
Now Linda was telling us he had helped establish a company six months after his funeral.
“That is impossible,” my father said.
Linda stood beside when I was sad.
He had died suddenly in a car accident on his way home from work.
Now Linda was telling us he had helped establish a company six months after his funeral.
“That is impossible,” my father said.
Linda stood beside the kitchen doorway, crying silently.
Robert Collins's voice came through the speakerphone.
“Richard, please don't touch the laptop or alter the documents. We need to preserve the records exactly as they are.””
My the kitchen doorway, crying silently.
Robert Collins's voice came through the speakerphone.
“Richard, please don't touch the laptop or alter the documents. We need to preserve the records exactly as they are.””
My father barely seemed to hear him.
“Peter was dead. I father barely seemed to hear him.
“Peter was dead. I attended his funeral. I identified his belongings.””
“I know,” Linda whispered.
“Then explain how his signature appeared on a company registration years attended his funeral. I identified his belongings.””
“I know,” Linda whispered.
“Then explain how his signature appeared on a company registration years later.””
She shook her head.
“I don't know how the signature was used after his death.””
“ later.””
She shook her head.
“I don't know how the signature was used after his death.””
“Did you use it?””
“No.””
“Did Daniel?””
“IDid you use it?””
“No.””
“Did Daniel?””
“I don't know!””
My father struck the table with his palm.
The sound made Mia jump.
“ don't know!””
My father struck the table with his palm.
The sound made Mia jump.
“Stop telling me what you don't know! You justStop telling me what you don't know! You just admitted that you helped create a company connected to my wife's trust. Someone admitted that you helped create a company connected to my wife's trust.
Someone used a dead man's signature. Someone transferred money. Someone hid the records. And you used a dead man's signature.
Someone transferred money. Someone hid the records. And you expect me to believe you simply stumbled into all of it?””
Linda covered her face.
“I expect me to believe you simply stumbled into all of it?””
Linda covered her face.
“I didn't start out trying to hurt anyone.””
“That isn't an answer.””
“I was didn't start out trying to hurt anyone.””
“That isn't an answer.””
“I was trying to protect Mia.””
Mia's eyes widened.
“Don't use me as an trying to protect Mia.””
Mia's eyes widened.
“Don't use me as an excuse.””
Linda looked at her daughter in disbelief.
“What?””
“You always say you did everything for me. You used that excuse excuse.””
Linda looked at her daughter in disbelief.
“What?””
“You always say you did everything for me. You used that excuse when you lied to Dad about my tuition. You used it when you bought me things we couldn't when you lied to Dad about my tuition.
You used it when you bought me things we couldn't afford. And now you're using it again.””
“I wanted you to have the life you deserved!””
M afford. And now you're using it again.””
“I wanted you to have the life you deserved!””
Mia's voice broke.
“I wanted a mother who could tell me no!””
Linda recoiled as though heria's voice broke.
“I wanted a mother who could tell me no!””
Linda recoiled as though her daughter had struck her.
My father moved toward the laptop.
“Robert, I want every record associated daughter had struck her.
My father moved toward the laptop.
“Robert, I want every record associated with that company. Registration documents, bank accounts, ownership records, everything.””
“I'll arrange that. with that company. Registration documents, bank accounts, ownership records, everything.””
“I'll arrange that. But there's something else you should know. The registration date alone doesn't prove who filed But there's something else you should know.
The registration date alone doesn't prove who filed the documents or who benefited from them. We need certified copies and the the documents or who benefited from them. We need certified copies and the underlying financial records.””
“Understood.””
My father ended the call only after Robert promised underlying financial records.””
“Understood.””
My father ended the call only after Robert promised to come over with an investigator he trusted.
Then he turned toward Linda.
“Start at the beginning.””
She to come over with an investigator he trusted.
Then he turned toward Linda.
“Start at the beginning.””
She sat down slowly.
For the first time since I had known her, she looked genuinely old sat down slowly.
For the first time since I had known her, she looked genuinely old. The carefully maintained confidence, the expensive clothes, the practiced expressions. The carefully maintained confidence, the expensive clothes, the practiced expressions—all of it seemed to have fallen away.
“I met Daniel through Peter,” she began.
My father frowned.
“Peter?””
“Yes. Your first wife's brother.””
“I knew Peter. I asked you to help organize—all of it seemed to have fallen away.
“I met Daniel through Peter,” she began.
My father frowned.
“Peter?””
“Yes. Your first wife's brother.””
“I knew Peter. I asked you to help organize some of his belongings after he died. I never heard you mention Daniel.””
“Peter knew him through a business associate. They had discussed setting up an investment company before the accident.””
My father pulled out a chair.
some of his belongings after he died. I never heard you mention Daniel.””
“Peter knew him through a business associate. They had discussed setting up an investment company before the accident.””
My father pulled out a chair.
“Why?””
“Peter believed your wife's property could be worth much more if it were developed commercially. He thought an investment company could manage the rental income and reinvest some of it.””
“Was that company supposed to manage Evelyn's trust?””
Linda hesitated.
“Not at first.””
“What does“Why?””
“Peter believed your wife's property could be worth much more if it were developed commercially. He thought an investment company could manage the rental income and reinvest some of it.””
“Was that company supposed to manage Evelyn's trust?””
Linda hesitated.
“Not at first.””
“What does that mean?””
She looked down at her hands.
“Peter wanted to discuss the idea with your wife. She refused. that mean?””
She looked down at her hands.
“Peter wanted to discuss the idea with your wife. She refused. She said the trust was intended to protect Evelyn, not to finance a business venture.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
That sounded exactly like my mother.
She had never cared much about expensive things. She cared She said the trust was intended to protect Evelyn, not to finance a business venture.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
That sounded exactly like my mother.
She had never cared much about expensive things. She cared about stability, education, and knowing that the people she loved would be safe if something went wrong.
My father leaned forward.
“Then why about stability, education, and knowing that the people she loved would be safe if something went wrong.
My father leaned forward.
“Then why did the company exist?””
“After Peter died, Daniel approached me. He said Peter had left unfinished paperwork and that the company could still be established using the documents they had prepared.””
“Why would did the company exist?””
“After Peter died, Daniel approached me. He said Peter had left unfinished paperwork and that the company could still be established using the documents they had prepared.””
“Why would you agree?””
“Because Daniel told me it would help secure Mia's future.””
My father stared at her.
“And you believed him?””
“I was worried about money.””
“You had a home, a car you agree?””
“Because Daniel told me it would help secure Mia's future.””
My father stared at her.
“And you believed him?””
“I was worried about money.””
“You had a home, a car, and a comfortable life.””
“I was worried about what would happen if you died or decided you no longer wanted us here, and a comfortable life.””
“I was worried about what would happen if you died or decided you no longer wanted us here!””
The confession burst out of her so suddenly that everyone fell silent.
Linda wiped her cheeks.
“You had built everything before you met me. The house was yours. The business was yours.
Evelyn had her mother's inheritance. I had nothing that was truly mine except what you gave me.””
“You could have talked to me.””
“I tried.””
“When?””
“Whenever I mentioned financial security, you said you would take care of us. But you never explained what that meant legally. You never wanted to discuss wills or ownership. You thought love was enough.””
My father stared at her.
“So you decided to make yourself secure by!””
The confession burst out of her so suddenly that everyone fell silent.
Linda wiped her cheeks.
“You had built everything before you met me. The house was yours. The business was yours.
Evelyn had her mother's inheritance. I had nothing that was truly mine except what you gave me.””
“You could have talked to me.””
“I tried.””
“When?””
“Whenever I mentioned financial security, you said you would take care of us. But you never explained what that meant legally. You never wanted to discuss wills or ownership. You thought love was enough.””
My father stared at her.
“So you decided to make yourself secure by taking money from my daughter's trust?””
“I didn't think of it that way!””
“How did you think of it?””
She looked at me.
“I thought I was moving money temporarily. Daniel said it would be invested. He said the profits would eventually replace everything.””
I felt sick.
“How much did you take?””
“I don't know the final amount.””
“You have the records,” I said.
“Some of the records are missing.””
“Convenient.””
Linda flinched.
I hadn't meant to speak so sharply, but taking money from my daughter's trust?””
“I didn't think of it that way!””
“How did you think of it?””
She looked at me.
“I thought I was moving money temporarily. Daniel said it would be invested. He said the profits would eventually replace everything.””
I felt sick.
“How much did you take?””
“I don't know the final amount.””
“You have the records,” I said.
“Some of the records are missing.””
“Convenient.””
Linda flinched.
I hadn't meant to speak so sharply, but I couldn't stop.
“You spent six years watching me work myself sick to pay for school. You watched me count grocery money. You watched me save for a dress, and then you let your daughter destroy it.””
“I didn't tell Mia to cut your dress!””
“No. You just taught her that what I cared about I couldn't stop.
“You spent six years watching me work myself sick to pay for school. You watched me count grocery money. You watched me save for a dress, and then you let your daughter destroy it.””
“I didn't tell Mia to cut your dress!””
“No. You just taught her that what I cared about didn't matter.””
Linda lowered her head.
For once, she didn't argue.
My father asked another question.
“What happened to Peter's original paperwork?””
Linda hesitated.
“Daniel kept it.””
“Where?””
“He said it was stored in a secure office.””
“Which office?””
“I don't know.””
My father stood.
didn't matter.””
Linda lowered her head.
For once, she didn't argue.
My father asked another question.
“What happened to Peter's original paperwork?””
Linda hesitated.
“Daniel kept it.””
“Where?””
“He said it was stored in a secure office.””
“Which office?””
“I don't know.””
My father stood.
“Then we have nothing more to discuss until the documents“Then we have nothing more to discuss until the documents are located.””
Linda grabbed his sleeve.
“Richard, please. You need to understand something.””
He looked down at her hand.
She released him are located.””
Linda grabbed his sleeve.
“Richard, please. You need to understand something.””
He looked down at her hand.
She released him.
“Daniel told me that Peter had discovered something about the trust before he died,” she whispered.
“He said Peter believed someone was using the property income for personal expenses.””
My father went still.
“Who?””
“He never told me.””
“Did Peter leave a letter?””
Linda nodded.
“Daniel said there was a letter explaining the company arrangement. He told me it was safer if I kept it away from the family until everything.
“Daniel told me that Peter had discovered something about the trust before he died,” she whispered.
“He said Peter believed someone was using the property income for personal expenses.””
My father went still.
“Who?””
“He never told me.””
“Did Peter leave a letter?””
Linda nodded.
“Daniel said there was a letter explaining the company arrangement. He told me it was safer if I kept it away from the family until everything was settled.””
“Where is it?””
“In the safe at the office.””
“What office?””
She swallowed.
“The old office on Mercer Street.””
My father immediately called Robert.
Within twenty minutes, Robert arrived with a colleague named Angela Brooks was settled.””
“Where is it?””
“In the safe at the office.””
“What office?””
She swallowed.
“The old office on Mercer Street.””
My father immediately called Robert.
Within twenty minutes, Robert arrived with a colleague named Angela Brooks, an attorney who specialized in financial disputes.
They listened while Linda repeated her, an attorney who specialized in financial disputes.
They listened while Linda repeated her account.
Angela asked precise questions, taking notes without reacting to the emotional accusations flying across the account.
Angela asked precise questions, taking notes without reacting to the emotional accusations flying across the room.
“Mrs. Hayes,” she said, “did you personally sign room.
“Mrs. Hayes,” she said, “did you personally sign any company registration documents?””
“Yes.””
“Did you provide Peter's signature?””
“No.””
“Did you know he any company registration documents?””
“Yes.””
“Did you provide Peter's signature?””
“No.””
“Did you know he was deceased when the company was registered?””
“Of course.””
“Did you tell anyone that his signature was genuine?””
Linda looked down was deceased when the company was registered?””
“Of course.””
“Did you tell anyone that his signature was genuine?””
Linda looked down.
“Daniel told me it was part of the paperwork Peter had completed before his death.””
Angela wrote something in her.
“Daniel told me it was part of the paperwork Peter had completed before his death.””
Angela wrote something in her notebook.
“Did you verify that?””
“No.””
“Did you receive money from the company?””
notebook.
“Did you verify that?””
“No.””
“Did you receive money from the company?””
Linda hesitated.
“Yes.””
“How much?””
“I don't know.””
“Did you report the payments as income?””
“I would need to check withLinda hesitated.
“Yes.””
“How much?””
“I don't know.””
“Did you report the payments as income?””
“I would need to check with my accountant.””
Angela nodded.
“Then we will need those records.””
My father stood beside the window my accountant.””
Angela nodded.
“Then we will need those records.””
My father stood beside the window, his hands clenched at his sides.
He looked as though he wanted to shout,, his hands clenched at his sides.
He looked as though he wanted to shout, but he remained silent while the attorneys worked.
I understood why.
but he remained silent while the attorneys worked.
I understood why.
Every answer created three more questions.
Every explanation revealed anotherEvery answer created three more questions.
Every explanation revealed another lie.
Finally, Angela closed her notebook.
“We should obtain lie.
Finally, Angela closed her notebook.
“We should obtain the original documents before deciding what happened. We also need to establish whether Peter's signature was copied, forged, or used from the original documents before deciding what happened. We also need to establish whether Peter's signature was copied, forged, or used from an earlier document without proper authority.””
She looked at Linda.
“If an earlier document without proper authority.””
She looked at Linda.
“If you are withholding information, now is the time to disclose it. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to distinguish what you are withholding information, now is the time to disclose it. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to distinguish what you knew from what you learned later.””
Linda nodded weakly.
“I understand.””
My father turned toward her.
“Do you?””
She you knew from what you learned later.””
Linda nodded weakly.
“I understand.””
My father turned toward her.
“Do you?””
She looked up.
“You have been living in this house for six years. You sat at my table. You stood beside me at looked up.
“You have been living in this house for six years. You sat at my table. You stood beside me at family gatherings.
You watched me tell Evelyn that her mother's memory family gatherings. You watched me tell Evelyn that her mother's memory would always be part of our family.””
His voice broke.
“And all that time, you were hiding something that could have taken away would always be part of our family.””
His voice broke.
“And all that time, you were hiding something that could have taken away her future.””
Linda began to cry again.
“I never wanted Evelyn to suffer.””
“Then why did you let her future.””
Linda began to cry again.
“I never wanted Evelyn to suffer.””
“Then why did you let her?””
She had no answer.
Angela stood.
“Richard, we'll begin by securing the available financial records. I her?””
She had no answer.
Angela stood.
“Richard, we'll begin by securing the available financial records. I recommend that you avoid making threats or demands that could complicate the investigation. If Linda has additional documents, we should request that she preserve them.””
My father nodded recommend that you avoid making threats or demands that could complicate the investigation. If Linda has additional documents, we should request that she preserve them.””
My father nodded.
Then he looked at me.
“Sweetheart, you still have a graduation to attend.””
I glanced at the clock.
.
Then he looked at me.
“Sweetheart, you still have a graduation to attend.””
I glanced at the clock.
The ceremony had begun nearly an hour earlier.
My throat tightenedThe ceremony had begun nearly an hour earlier.
My throat tightened.
“I missed it.””
“No,” he said firmly.
“You missed the scheduled arrival time. We don't.
“I missed it.””
“No,” he said firmly.
“You missed the scheduled arrival time. We don't yet know whether the university can accommodate you.””
“Dad, it's over.””
He took my hands.
“Then we'll find out yet know whether the university can accommodate you.””
“Dad, it's over.””
He took my hands.
“Then we'll find out. And if they can't, we'll arrange something else. And if they can't, we'll arrange something else.
But you are not going to let what happened this morning be the final. But you are not going to let what happened this morning be the final word on your achievement.””
Mia appeared beside us, holding her blue graduation dress.
“E word on your achievement.””
Mia appeared beside us, holding her blue graduation dress.
“Evelyn?””
I turned.
She extended the garment bag.
“I pressed it. It's ready.””
I accepted itvelyn?””
I turned.
She extended the garment bag.
“I pressed it. It's ready.””
I accepted it without speaking.
She swallowed.
“I know it doesn't make without speaking.
She swallowed.
“I know it doesn't make up for anything.””
“No,” I said.
“It doesn't.””
She nodded.
“But you up for anything.””
“No,” I said.
“It doesn't.””
She nodded.
“But you can still go,” she whispered.
I looked at my father.
He was already reaching for his car keys.
“Let's find can still go,” she whispered.
I looked at my father.
He was already reaching for his car keys.
“Let's find out what we can do.””
As we walked toward the front door, Angela called after out what we can do.””
As we walked toward the front door, Angela called after us.
“Richard, one more thing.””
He turned.
She held up a printed page from the company us.
“Richard, one more thing.””
He turned.
She held up a printed page from the company registration.
“The company was registered using a mailing address that doesn't match the office on Mercer Street.””
“Wh registration.
“The company was registered using a mailing address that doesn't match the office on Mercer Street.””
“Whose address is it?””
Angela looked at the page again.
Then she looked atose address is it?””
Angela looked at the page again.
Then she looked at me.
“It's an address associated with your mother's estate.””
My father stopped breathing for a moment.
I gripped me.
“It's an address associated with your mother's estate.””
My father stopped breathing for a moment.
I gripped the garment bag.
“My mother's estate?””
Angela nodded.
“An address connected to a storage property that has been the garment bag.
“My mother's estate?””
Angela nodded.
“An address connected to a storage property that has been generating rental income for years.””
My father stared at the page.
Then he looked at Linda.
“Did you know about generating rental income for years.””
My father stared at the page.
Then he looked at Linda.
“Did you know about this property?””
Linda's lips parted.
And her answer changed everything.
“Yes,” she whispered.
“But this property?””
Linda's lips parted.
And her answer changed everything.
May you like
“Yes,” she whispered.
“But that property wasn't supposed to belong to Evelyn.””
