Chapter 8: The Signature That Wasn't Mine
By 8:05 a.m., my parents' house had become part of the investigation.
Marcus arranged for an investigator to meet them and preserve the documents. Laura remained at the hospital to continue Emma's interview when she was medically able.
I wanted to go home.
I wanted to see the papers myself.
But Marcus stopped me before I reached the elevator.
“Claire, you cannot be involved in collecting evidence from your parents' house.””
“I understand.””
“And I don't want you contacting Hayes.””
“I haven't.””
“Good. Keep it that way.””
I looked at him.
“Do you think he knows what those documents contain?””
“I think he's worried enough to contact you directly. That's all we can say.””
I returned to Emma's room.
She was sitting slightly upright, eating a few spoonfuls of applesauce.
When she saw me, she put the cup down.
“What did Mom say?””
“They found documents Daniel gave them four years ago.””
Her spoon stopped halfway to her mouth.
“Which documents?””
“Something involving your signature, mine, and Robert's.””
She looked confused.
“I never signed anything with Robert.””
“That's what we're trying to establish.””
Emma stared at her hands.
“Claire, do you remember the summer Dad had his heart surgery?””
“Of course.””
“Daniel came to the hospital every day.””
I nodded.
“He did.””
“He told me he was helping Mom and Dad with their bills. He said they shouldn't have to worry about money while Dad recovered.””
I remembered Daniel bringing flowers to the hospital.
He had been so attentive that my father once joked he'd found the perfect son-in-law.
“What does that have to do with the documents?””
Emma looked at me.
“He asked me to sign some papers.””
My stomach tightened.
“What papers?””
“He said they were authorizations for the family business account. I didn't read them carefully.””
“Did I sign anything?””
She nodded slowly.
“You signed something too.””
I stared at her.
“I never signed financial paperwork for Daniel.””
“He said you were helping with a police charity project. He told me the documents were connected to that.””
I felt a chill.
I had volunteered for several community programs during that period, but I had never authorized Daniel to use my name for financial transactions.
“Did you actually see me sign?””
Emma hesitated.
“I saw your signature on one page. I thought you'd already signed it.””
I sat down.
“Emma, listen carefully. I never gave Daniel permission to use my signature on a financial agreement.””
Her face crumpled.
“I swear I didn't know.””
“I believe you.””
She wiped her eyes.
“I think he used us.””
I looked toward the door.
For years, Daniel had been invited into our family.
He had attended birthdays, holidays, funerals, and Sunday dinners.
He knew our parents' financial concerns.
He knew my career ambitions.
He knew Emma's insecurities.
He had used all of it.
At 8:32 a.m., Laura returned.
“We have an update.””
“What happened?””
“The documents at your parents' house have been secured for examination.””
“What's in them?””
She opened her notebook.
“One appears to be a business authorization. Another is a financial guarantee connected to Mercer Holdings.””
“Whose signatures?””
“Your sister's. Yours. And Robert Hayes's.””
My mouth went dry.
“Are they authentic?””
“We don't know yet. A forensic document examiner will need to assess them.””
Emma looked frightened.
“What does the guarantee mean?””
Laura pulled a chair closer.
“It appears to connect the signatories to a financial obligation involving a business loan.””
“How much?”” I asked.
Laura checked her notes.
“Approximately $1.8 million.””
Emma's face drained of color.
“That's impossible.””
“Why?””
“Daniel told me his company was worth several million dollars. He said he never needed to borrow money.””
Laura remained calm.
“Companies can have loans regardless of their value. The important question is whether you knowingly agreed to guarantee one.””
Emma shook her head.
“I didn't.””
I looked at Laura.
“And me?””
“We need to examine the original signature and compare it with verified samples.””
I rubbed my forehead.
“If someone forged my signature on a financial guarantee, that's not just a family problem.””
“No,” Laura replied.
“It's a separate allegation that will need its own investigation.””
Then my phone rang.
An unfamiliar number.
I answered.
“Claire Bennett.””
A man's voice came through.
“Officer Bennett, this is Victor Lang. I'm representing Daniel Mercer.””
I looked at Laura.
“What do you want?””
“My client wishes to resolve the misunderstanding involving your sister.””
“Your client can communicate through the investigators.””
“Of course. However, I believe there's information you should hear before this situation becomes unnecessarily complicated.””
“What information?””
He paused.
“Your sister was involved in a financial arrangement that has exposed your parents to substantial liability.””
I felt my jaw tighten.
“Are you threatening my family?””
“I'm explaining the circumstances.””
“Then explain them to the detective.””
“I would prefer to speak with you privately.””
“No.””
His voice became colder.
“Your sister may have failed to disclose several things about her marriage.””
“Goodbye, Mr. Lang.””
I ended the call.
Laura was watching me.
“Did he threaten you?””
“He suggested Emma's financial decisions could affect our parents.””
Laura nodded.
“Document the call and give us the number.””
I handed her my phone.
Then another message appeared.
This one came from Daniel.
<box border radius="lg" padding={3} gap={2}> *DANIEL MERCER — 8:41 A.M.*
"Tell Emma to stop lying. If she tells the truth about the money, your parents could lose everything."" </box>
I showed Laura.
She photographed the screen.
Emma had read it too.
Her breathing became uneven.
“Claire…”
“I'm here.””
“He knows.””
“Knows what?””
She looked at me.
“About the account.””
“What account?””
“The account he made me open four years ago.””
Laura pulled out her notebook.
“Can you tell us more?””
Emma nodded.
“Daniel took me to a bank downtown. He said he needed a separate account for household expenses. He told me the account would be in my name, but he'd manage it.””
“Did you have access?””
“He gave me a debit card. It never worked.””
“Did you ever check the balance?””
“No.””
“Did you receive statements?””
“Only emails. Daniel told me they were routine business notifications.””
Laura wrote everything down.
“Do you remember the bank?””
Emma named it.
Laura looked at me.
“This could be important.””
My phone vibrated again.
A new email notification.
The sender was an account Emma had used years earlier.
The subject line read:
*URGENT: ACCOUNT HOLDER NOTIFICATION — MERCER HOLDINGS*
I opened it.
The message contained an attached statement.
The account holder was Emma Bennett.
But the address listed beneath her name wasn't our home address.
It was a commercial property Daniel owned.
I scrolled down.
There were dozens of transactions.
Some were small.
Others were enormous.
And one transaction, dated three days earlier, was marked:
*TRANSFER AUTHORIZED — $250,000.*
Emma stared at the screen.
“I didn't authorize that.””
I looked at Laura.
She immediately photographed the email.
May you like
Then she said the words I hadn't expected.
“Claire, this may be why Daniel was so desperate to get your sister's phone.””
