Chapter 5: The Second Signature
David immediately closed his laptop.
“We need to slow down.””
Marcus stared at Monica.
“No. We’ve been slow for a year.””
“I mean legally.””
David looked at Jasmine.
“Do you know exactly what your counselor said?””
“She said someone contacted the school asking about withdrawing me.””
“Did she say who?””
“No.””
David nodded.
“Then we don’t assume. We verify.””
Marcus exhaled sharply.
He wanted answers immediately.
But David was right.
Every accusation needed evidence now.
Monica seemed to recognize that too.
“You see?”” she said.
“This is becoming a witch hunt.””
David turned toward her.
“I didn't say that.””
Her expression tightened.
“I said we verify.””
Marcus picked up the forged documents.
“Start with these.””
David examined them again.
Then he removed his phone.
“I have someone at the county office who can tell me what was submitted with the filing.””
He made a call.
While he waited, Jasmine sat on the edge of the sofa.
Olivia sat across from her.
Neither girl spoke.
For the first time in months, Olivia did not look smug.
She looked terrified.
Finally, she whispered, “I didn't know.””
Jasmine looked at her.
“About which part?””
Olivia flinched.
It was a cruel question.
Jasmine knew it.
But she was too exhausted to soften anything.
“The house.””
Olivia wiped her face.
“I swear.””
“You knew about the email.””
“Yes.””
“You knew Mom’s necklace was broken.””
Olivia looked down.
“You broke it.””
Silence.
Jasmine’s voice hardened.
“Didn't you?””
Olivia nodded.
“Why?””
“I was angry.””
“At what?””
“You.””
“That isn't an answer.””
Olivia finally looked up.
“Because you had things I didn't.””
Jasmine stared at her.
“You had everything.””
“No, I didn't.””
“You had a mother.””
The words stopped Olivia cold.
Jasmine’s eyes filled.
“You had your mom downstairs defending you every time you did something to me. You had her choosing you every single time.””
Olivia looked away.
“And you were jealous because I had a necklace from a mother who died?””
“I didn't think about it like that.””
“That doesn't make it better.””
“I know.””
Jasmine almost laughed.
For an entire year she had wanted Olivia to admit what she was doing.
Now the admission felt empty.
“You deleted an email that could have changed my life.””
Olivia whispered, “I know.””
“And then you stood beside my suitcase smiling.””
Olivia’s face crumpled.
“I thought you were going to your aunt.””
“I don't have an aunt in Tennessee.””
“I didn't know that.””
“You never asked.””
Olivia had no response.
Across the room, David ended his call.
His expression was grim.
“The county office received three documents.””
Marcus stood.
“What three?””
“The attempted deed transfer, a supporting ownership affidavit, and a document claiming the trust had relinquished its interest.””
David placed his phone down.
Jasmine felt her stomach tighten.
“What does that mean?””
“It means somebody submitted paperwork claiming your trust no longer had rights to the property.””
Marcus stared at him.
“Did Jasmine sign anything?””
David’s expression answered first.
“There is a signature attributed to her.””
Jasmine stood.
“I never signed anything.””
“I believe you.””
Marcus’s voice turned dangerously quiet.
“Get me a copy.””
“They’re emailing it.””
Monica grabbed her purse.
“I’m done listening to this.””
Marcus stepped aside from the doorway.
“You're free to leave.””
Monica seemed surprised.
“But the papers stay.””
She hesitated.
Then she walked out.
Olivia jumped up.
“Mom!””
Monica didn't turn.
The front door slammed.
Olivia stood frozen.
Jasmine watched her.
For the first time, Monica had chosen to protect herself before Olivia.
The realization seemed to hit Olivia hard.
“She left me.””
Marcus sighed.
“You can stay here tonight.””
Olivia looked at him.
“After everything?””
“You're sixteen.””
His answer was simple.
“You're not being thrown onto the street.””
Jasmine looked at her father.
That sentence mattered.
Marcus would not do to Olivia what Monica had tried to do to Jasmine.
Even now.
David’s phone chimed.
He opened the email.
“Got it.””
He downloaded the document.
Then his expression changed.
“What?””
He turned the screen toward Marcus.
A scanned signature appeared at the bottom.
Jasmine Carter.
Jasmine stared at it.
“That looks like mine.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Could you have signed something without realizing what it was?””
“No.””
She leaned closer.
Then she saw something.
“Wait.””
“What?””
“That’s from school.””
David frowned.
“What do you mean?””
“My signature.””
She pointed.
“I signed my permission form for the Vanderbilt campus visit exactly like that.””
Marcus looked confused.
“How can you tell?””
“Because the J is messed up.””
She remembered rushing to sign it before class.
Her pen had skipped halfway through.
The same defect appeared here.
Jasmine ran upstairs.
She returned carrying a folder from her backpack.
She pulled out a photocopy of the campus permission form.
David placed both signatures side by side.
Identical.
Not similar.
Identical.
Even the broken ink line matched.
David leaned back.
“Someone copied the signature digitally.””
Marcus’s face went hard.
“Who had access to this form?””
“School staff.””
Jasmine paused.
“And Monica.””
Everyone looked at her.
“She signed the parent section.””
David nodded.
“Then she had access to the original.””
Olivia whispered, “Oh my God.””
Marcus walked toward the window.
Outside, Monica’s car was gone.
He called her.
Straight to voicemail.
Again.
Voicemail.
David said, “Don't chase her.””
“I’m not chasing her.””
“You're thinking about it.””
Marcus turned.
“My daughter’s signature was copied onto a legal document.””
“And that’s exactly why you let the evidence speak.””
Marcus looked toward Jasmine.
She seemed exhausted.
Seventeen years old.
And adults were discussing forged deeds around her.
His anger shifted into guilt.
“You need food.””
Jasmine almost laughed.
“What?””
“You came home from school. You haven't eaten.””
“Dad, someone tried to steal our house.””
“And you still need dinner.””
For some reason, that nearly made Jasmine cry.
Normal concern.
Something ordinary.
Something parental.
“I’m not hungry.””
“Eat anyway.””
Marcus ordered pizza.
Nobody objected.
While they waited, David copied the USB files onto his encrypted laptop.
Jasmine explained how she had gathered them.
Some were audio recordings.
Some photographs.
Some short videos.
David opened the folders.
Broken medal.
Torn artwork.
The necklace.
Olivia entering Jasmine’s bedroom.
Monica removing mail from a pile before Jasmine came downstairs.
Then they reached the recordings.
Jasmine looked nervous.
“I haven't listened to all of them.””
David clicked one.
Monica’s voice filled the room.
“…six weeks is too long.””
A man answered.
The recording was faint.
“Then accelerate it.””
Marcus leaned closer.
“Who is that?””
Jasmine shook her head.
“I don't know.””
Monica spoke again.
“Marcus is in Atlanta until Thursday. The girl can be out Wednesday.””
Jasmine felt goose bumps rise on her arms.
Wednesday.
Today.
The man said something muffled.
David increased the volume.
“…need the trust document.””
Monica answered.
“I know where it is.””
Marcus stared toward the staircase.
The hidden envelope.
David paused the recording.
“She knew.””
Marcus nodded.
“She knew exactly where Renee’s papers were.””
They continued.
Monica said, “Once Jasmine is gone, I can say she moved voluntarily.””
The man replied, “That doesn't eliminate her interest.””
“No, but it buys time.””
Marcus’s hands clenched.
Then came the sentence that silenced everyone.
“If Marcus finds out before the filing clears, we’re finished.””
David stopped the audio.
Olivia was crying again.
“That’s my mom.””
Nobody answered.
David rewound the male voice.
He listened several times.
“I recognize him.””
Marcus looked at him.
“Who?””
“I’m not sure.””
“David.””
“Give me a minute.””
He replayed it.
Then his face changed.
“No.””
Marcus leaned forward.
“What?””
David removed his glasses.
“I think that's Peter Lang.””
Marcus went pale.
Jasmine looked between them.
“Who is Peter Lang?””
Marcus did not answer immediately.
David did.
“Marcus’s business accountant.””
Jasmine stared at her father.
Marcus looked as though someone had punched him.
Peter wasn't merely an accountant.
He had managed Marcus’s business finances for eleven years.
He had attended birthdays.
Barbecues.
Even Marcus and Monica’s wedding.
Marcus whispered, “He knows every account I have.””
David nodded.
“And probably every property.””
The front door opened.
Everyone jumped.
But it wasn't Monica.
A pizza delivery driver stood outside.
Marcus paid him automatically.
The ordinary smell of cheese and bread filled a room that no longer felt ordinary.
They ate almost silently.
Then Marcus’s phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
“Hello?””
A man spoke.
Marcus’s face hardened.
“Peter.””
Jasmine stopped eating.
Marcus put the call on speaker.
Peter sounded nervous.
“Marcus, Monica called me.””
Marcus looked at David.
“Did she?””
“She’s upset.””
“I imagine she is.””
“Look, whatever papers you found, there’s an explanation.””
Marcus’s eyes narrowed.
“How do you know I found papers?””
Silence.
Peter had walked directly into it.
Marcus continued.
“I never told you.””
Peter stammered.
“Monica said—”
“Where are you?””
“Marcus, don't do anything stupid.””
“I asked where you are.””
“I’m not meeting you.””
David shook his head at Marcus.
Don't push.
Marcus changed tactics.
“Fine. Then answer one question.””
“What?””
“Did you forge my daughter’s signature?””
Peter went silent.
Marcus looked at Jasmine.
Then Peter said something none of them expected.
“Ask Monica whose idea this really was.””
The line went dead.
Marcus immediately called back.
No answer.
David stared at the phone.
“That sounded like a man preparing to save himself.””
Marcus nodded.
Olivia suddenly spoke.
“There’s something you should know.””
Everyone turned.
She looked terrified.
“Last month, Mom gave me papers.””
Marcus’s heart sank.
“What papers?””
“She told me they were for a college savings account.””
“You signed them?””
Olivia nodded.
“A bunch of places.””
David sat forward.
“Do you still have copies?””
“No.””
“What did they look like?””
“I don't remember.””
Marcus rubbed his forehead.
“Think.””
Olivia closed her eyes.
“There was one page with the house address.””
Silence.
Jasmine stared at her.
Olivia’s eyes opened.
“I thought it was proof of residence.””
David asked, “Did Monica ever ask you to sign Jasmine’s name?””
“No.””
“Marcus’s?””
“No.””
David nodded.
“That’s important.””
Olivia looked sick.
“What did I sign?””
“We don't know yet.””
Then Jasmine’s phone vibrated on the sofa.
Everyone looked toward it.
Monica had taken it earlier, but Marcus had returned it.
A notification appeared.
Email.
Jasmine picked up the phone.
Her eyes widened.
“What?””
She turned the screen toward her father.
It was from the Hamilton Foundation.
Jasmine Carter,
We understand there may have been circumstances affecting your ability to respond to our previous invitation.
Your counselor contacted our office today.
We would like to offer you a rescheduled finalist interview tomorrow morning.
Jasmine covered her mouth.
Marcus smiled for the first time all evening.
“You got another chance.””
Tears filled her eyes.
But before she could respond, another notification appeared.
This one was from an unfamiliar email address.
No subject.
May you like
One sentence.
Tell your father to check his company accounts before Peter empties them.
