Chapter 8: The Signature That Wasn't Mine
Laura insisted that we return to her office before going home.
She examined the photograph carefully.
"Do you recognize the building?""
I zoomed in.
It was a low brick building with a glass entrance and a sign partially visible above the door.
I recognized the street.
It was less than ten miles from our house.
"Could that be Harper's office?"" I asked.
"Possibly. We'll verify it.""
She looked at the unknown number.
"Don't respond yet.""
I put the phone down.
Maya was sitting in the corner with a coloring book that Laura's assistant had given her.
She was drawing a house.
Three people stood outside it.
Me.
Her.
And Ethan.
There was no Vanessa.
I looked away.
Laura opened the school authorization again.
"The signature is suspicious," she said.
"But we need a qualified examination before making any definitive claim.""
"Can we find out who submitted it?""
"We can request the school's records and preserve the original document.""
She picked up her phone.
"I'm also going to contact the appropriate authorities about the attempted collection.""
I nodded.
Then she asked something unexpected.
"Do you have a copy of your identification documents?""
"Yes.""
"Has anyone else had access to them?""
I thought about it.
Vanessa had access to our filing cabinet.
She knew my date of birth, social security information, bank details, and almost every password I used.
I had never considered that dangerous.
"Yes," I said quietly.
"My wife.""
Laura wrote something down.
"Did you ever give her permission to sign documents on your behalf?""
"No.""
"Even informally?""
"No.""
She nodded.
"Good. We need to keep that position consistent and accurate.""
My phone vibrated again.
This time, it was Michael.
I answered.
"Hey.""
"Daniel, I found something.""
"What?""
"I checked the joint account statements you sent. There's another payment you missed.""
He emailed me a screenshot.
I opened it.
The transaction was dated three months earlier.
$4,800.
The recipient was a company called *Bright Path Child Services*.
I looked at Laura.
"There's another company.""
She took the phone and examined the details.
"Have you heard of this organization?""
"No.""
Michael continued.
"I searched the company name. It looks like it was registered less than a year ago.""
"Who owns it?""
"That's what I'm checking.""
I thanked him and ended the call.
Laura looked concerned.
"Daniel, don't assume the company is involved in wrongdoing simply because it's unfamiliar. But these payments need to be explained.""
She turned to her assistant.
"Please add Bright Path to the list of entities we need to verify.""
At that moment, Maya approached us.
"Daddy?""
I crouched.
"What's wrong?""
"Can I ask something?""
"Anything.""
She looked at Laura, then back at me.
"Am I going to live somewhere else?""
I felt my throat tighten.
"No, sweetheart. We're doing everything we can to make sure you're safe.""
"But Vanessa said I was going.""
I held her hands.
"Vanessa doesn't get to make that decision by herself.""
Maya looked down.
"She said you signed the paper.""
I went completely still.
"What paper?""
"The one in her bedroom.""
Laura leaned forward.
"Maya, do you remember seeing it?""
Maya nodded.
"She put it on the bed. She told Aunt Rachel that Daddy had already agreed.""
I looked at Laura.
"Can you ask her what it looked like?""
Laura shook her head gently.
"We don't want to overwhelm her. Let her speak naturally.""
Maya continued.
"It had a picture of me.""
My heart pounded.
"Did you see anything else?""
"Yes.""
She pointed toward the door.
"There was a little blue picture at the top.""
Laura's pen stopped.
"A blue picture?""
Maya nodded.
"Like a house with a heart.""
Laura looked at me.
"That could be a logo.""
I remembered the documents.
The placement report had a similar blue emblem.
I opened the photograph on my phone and zoomed in.
There it was.
A small blue house with a heart in the center.
Underneath it were the words:
*Harper Family Placement Network.*
Laura stared at the screen.
"This isn't the same name as the payment recipient.""
I felt a chill.
"How many companies are involved?""
"We don't know yet.""
She stood.
"Daniel, I want you to understand something. We have several issues that need to be investigated separately. The alleged forged signatures, the attempted school collection, the financial transfers, and the proposed placement.""
I nodded.
Then she added:
"And we need to find out whether the person making these arrangements has any lawful authority to do so.""
On the drive home, Maya fell asleep in the back seat.
Ethan was waiting at the house.
He opened the door before I could reach it.
"Where's Maya?""
"Right here.""
He smiled when he saw her sleeping.
Then he noticed my expression.
"What happened?""
I told him about the woman at school.
Ethan looked down.
"Mom said she'd come today.""
I stopped.
"She told you?""
He nodded.
"She said the lady would take Maya somewhere safe.""
"Did she tell you where?""
"No.""
He hesitated.
Then he added:
"But I heard her talking to Aunt Rachel last night.""
"What did they say?""
Ethan looked toward the stairs.
"Mom said they had to finish everything before Friday.""
I checked the date.
It was Wednesday.
"What happens Friday?""
Ethan shook his head.
"I don't know.""
Then he reached into his pocket.
He pulled out a small folded photograph.
It showed Vanessa standing beside Ms. Harper.
But this time, there was a third person.
A man in a dark suit.
Ethan pointed at him.
"That's the person Mom calls Mr. Cole.""
I studied the photograph.
The man was holding a folder.
On the front was a label.
*MAYA CARTER — FINAL PLACEMENT.*
My phone began ringing.
It was an unknown number again.
I answered.
A man's voice spoke.
"Mr. Carter, my name is Robert Cole. We need to discuss your daughter.""
I looked at the photograph.
"Who are you?""
He paused.
May you like
Then he said:
"I'm the person your wife hired to make sure Maya never comes back to your house.""
