Chapter 10: My Son's Signature
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
Daniel was still on the phone.
"Mom?""
I gripped the edge of the dining table.
"Are you telling me you signed a document authorizing the sale of my condo?""
"No. That's not what I'm saying.""
"Then explain.""
He took a shaky breath.
"There's a signature beside my name. But I never signed a purchase agreement.""
I looked at Samuel.
He immediately stopped reviewing his papers.
"Daniel, listen carefully," I said.
"Did you sign anything concerning the condo?""
"No.""
"Did you give Harper permission to sign for you?""
"No.""
"Did you ever tell her she could represent you in a property transaction involving me?""
"Never.""
I closed my eyes.
"Where are you?""
"At home. I found the folder in her desk.""
"Don't touch anything else. Take photographs of every page and send them to Samuel.""
"Okay.""
"And Daniel?""
"Yes?""
"Don't confront Harper until we've seen the documents.""
He hesitated.
"Mom, I think I need to.""
"Not yet.""
I ended the call.
Samuel reached for his phone.
"Send me the purchase agreement immediately.""
A few minutes later, the documents arrived.
Samuel opened the first page.
The agreement identified the property as Unit 604.
The proposed purchase price was $465,000.
The buyer was Seaside Capital Partners.
The seller was listed as the Mitchell Family Property Trust.
I stared at the screen.
"That's not even the full market value.""
Samuel nodded.
"I noticed.""
The next page contained the supposed authorization.
My name appeared beneath the seller's information.
Daniel's name appeared as an appointed representative.
Then came a signature.
It looked like Daniel's.
Almost.
But the final letter was wrong.
I had watched my son sign birthday cards, school permission slips, mortgage documents, and Christmas checks for thirty-eight years.
I knew his handwriting.
This wasn't it.
Samuel enlarged the image.
"Daniel's signature may have been copied from another document.""
He moved to the final page.
There was another problem.
The agreement stated that the seller had agreed to accept a $20,000 deposit, with the balance payable upon completion.
The deposit had already been transferred to Coastal Comfort.
I looked at Samuel.
"Can they actually buy the condo?""
"No. Not without valid authority from the trustee. But the false representation of authority is serious.""
He took several screenshots.
"I want the original file preserved, including its metadata.""
My phone rang again.
Daniel.
"Mom, I sent everything.""
"Good.""
"There's something else.""
I sat down.
"What?""
"Harper has been telling people that you agreed to sell.""
"Who?""
"Her parents. Some friends. Even people at our church.""
I closed my eyes.
"How long?""
"I don't know.""
He sounded close to tears.
"Mom, she told me you were thinking about moving closer to us. She said selling the condo would give you enough money to buy something smaller.""
I stared at the ocean.
"I never said that.""
"I know.""
"Daniel, why would she tell you that?""
He didn't answer.
Then he said something I wasn't prepared to hear.
"Because she wanted me to believe the sale was already decided.""
Samuel looked up.
I put the phone on speaker.
"Daniel, do you know whether Harper has used your signature on anything else?""
A long silence followed.
"I don't know.""
"Have you ever signed a power of attorney?""
"No.""
"Any authorization allowing her to conduct financial business for you?""
"No.""
Samuel exchanged a look with me.
"Daniel, I need you to search for any documents you might have signed over the past year. Don't alter anything. We need to know whether someone obtained a copy of your signature.""
"Okay.""
Before ending the call, Daniel asked, "Mom, do you think Harper planned to sell the condo without telling either of us?""
I looked at the purchase agreement.
"She's been making decisions about it without asking me for a long time.""
That was the only honest answer I had.
At 2:40, Samuel received confirmation from Seaside Capital's legal representative.
The company had been told that the property was available for sale.
They had received a preliminary title package.
They had also received photographs, an estimated valuation, and a document purporting to establish Harper's authority.
The buyer had paid the deposit in good faith, according to its representative.
Samuel drafted a formal notice disputing the transaction and demanding preservation of all communications.
He also contacted the attorney handling Seaside Capital's acquisition.
At 4:15, the buyer's attorney called.
Samuel put the call on speaker.
"Mr. Reed, we've reviewed your notice. Our client has no intention of completing a transaction without verified ownership authorization.""
"Good," Samuel replied.
"However, the client has already transferred twenty thousand dollars.""
"To an entity that was not authorized to receive payment on behalf of my client.""
"We understand that.""
"Then your client should pursue recovery from the recipient.""
There was a pause.
"There's another matter.""
Samuel looked at me.
"Go ahead.""
"The seller's representative supplied a statement indicating that Mrs. Mitchell had agreed to the sale because of financial difficulties.""
I felt my face grow hot.
"Financial difficulties?""
Samuel remained calm.
"Mrs. Mitchell has no such financial difficulties.""
The attorney continued.
"The statement also indicated that she was experiencing memory problems and had requested that family members handle her affairs.""
I slowly stood.
"What?""
Samuel raised his hand, asking me to wait.
"Who supplied that statement?""
"The document came through the seller's representative.""
"Name?""
"Harper Collins.""
I felt something inside me break.
Not because she had tried to sell the condo.
Not because she had taken money.
But because she had apparently been telling strangers that I was no longer capable of making my own decisions.
I had spent four years learning how to live without Frank.
I had paid my bills.
Maintained my property.
Managed his estate.
Handled every responsibility that came with being alone.
And Harper had decided that my age made me an easy person to replace.
Samuel ended the call.
Then he looked at me.
"Barbara, I recommend that we obtain an independent assessment of your capacity if anyone continues making these allegations.""
I stared at him.
"Are you suggesting I need to prove I'm competent?""
"No. I'm suggesting we remove that argument before anyone can use it against you.""
I understood.
But it still hurt.
At 5:02, Daniel arrived.
He looked exhausted.
He placed a second folder on the table.
"I found these in Harper's desk.""
Inside were copies of our old family-use agreement, photographs of the condo, rental invoices, and several pages of handwritten notes.
Samuel began examining them.
Then he stopped.
"Barbara, look at this.""
It was a handwritten list.
The first item read:
1. Establish rental income history.
The second:
2. Obtain property valuation.
The third:
3. Secure buyer interest.
The fourth:
4. Obtain owner's cooperation or demonstrate need for family assistance.
I read the last item twice.
"Demonstrate need for family assistance?""
Daniel looked sick.
"What does that mean?""
Samuel turned the page.
There was another handwritten note.
"Barbara's increasing forgetfulness may support representative request.""
I felt my hands begin to shake.
Daniel grabbed the chair.
"She wrote that?""
Samuel nodded.
"These documents need to be preserved.""
I looked at my son.
"Daniel, did you ever tell Harper I was becoming forgetful?""
He shook his head.
"No.""
"Did you ever tell her I couldn't manage my affairs?""
"No, Mom. Never.""
I sat back.
Then I noticed a date beside the handwritten note.
It was from eight months earlier.
Eight months before Harper called me and told me to leave my own condo.
Eight months before I knew strangers were paying to stay there.
Eight months before I discovered the attempted sale.
I looked at Samuel.
"She was planning this long before I found out.""
He nodded.
"That's what the documents suggest.""
Daniel covered his face.
For several minutes, the only sound was the air conditioner.
Then he stood.
"I'm going to ask her directly.""
Samuel looked at him.
"Be careful.""
Daniel nodded.
He walked toward the door.
Before leaving, he turned to me.
"Mom, whatever happens, I won't let her take your home.""
I wanted to believe him.
I really did.
But as the door closed, my phone vibrated.
A new email had arrived from an address I didn't recognize.
The subject line read:
YOUR DAUGHTER-IN-LAW ISN'T THE ONLY PERSON INVOLVED.
There was one attachment.
A bank statement.
And beside the $20,000 deposit from Seaside Capital was another transfer.
$45,000.
The recipient's name was Daniel Mitchell.
I stared at the screen.
May you like
Because now I had a new question.
If Daniel hadn't signed the purchase agreement, why had someone transferred forty-five thousand dollars into his account?
