Chapter 2 - The Signature
Daniel Mercer was waiting when Elena arrived at his private office that evening.
He had represented the Carter family for nearly fifteen years, but he had never seen Elena enter his office with two sleeping children and the expression she wore that night.
“Show me.”
Daniel placed three documents on the desk.
The first was a property transfer.
The second was a power-of-attorney form.
The third was a refinancing agreement against one of Elena's commercial properties.
All three carried Elena's signature.
All three were dated during the six months when she had been deployed overseas.
“I didn't sign any of these.”
“I know.”
Daniel slid a magnifying glass across the desk.
“Your real signature has a slight upward curve at the end of the final letter. These don't.”
Elena studied the documents.
“Who witnessed them?”
Daniel hesitated.
“Your mother.”
Elena looked up.
“Evelyn?”
Daniel nodded.
“And Sarah's name appears on the beneficiary instructions.”
Elena leaned back.
For years, Sarah had told everyone Elena was selfish.
That she had become cold after joining the Army.
That her military career had made her forget her family.
Elena had believed some of it herself.
Then Daniel opened another folder.
“This is where it gets strange.”
Inside was a bank statement.
A company called Carter Meridian Holdings had received nearly four million dollars from Elena's personal investment account.
The transfer had occurred three days after Elena's twins were born.
Elena stared at the date.
“I was in the hospital.”
Daniel nodded.
“You were unconscious after the delivery.”
Elena's stomach tightened.
“Who authorized it?”
Daniel turned the page.
“The authorization came from a digital device registered to your mother's residence.”
Silence filled the room.
Leo stirred.
Elena gently adjusted the blanket around him.
“Daniel.”
“Yes?”
“Don't confront my mother yet.”
He looked surprised.
“Why?”
“Because if Sarah forged the signature, someone taught her what documents to create.”
Elena looked down at the three papers.
“And whoever taught her may still believe I don't know.”
Daniel slowly closed the folder.
“What are you going to do?”
Elena looked toward the sleeping twins.
“Let them think I'm still discovering the money.”
She paused.
“While we discover everything else.”
But before Daniel could answer, his office phone rang.
His assistant whispered through the intercom.
“There is a man downstairs asking for Colonel Carter.”
Daniel frowned.
“Name?”
The assistant answered.
“Michael Reed.”
Elena's face changed.
She knew that name.
Michael Reed had been her father's financial auditor.
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And he had disappeared eight years earlier.
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