Chapter 10: The Signature## Chapter 10: The Signature That Turned My Father Into a Sus That Turned My Father Into a Suspect
For several seconds, I couldn't hear anything exceptpect
For several seconds, I couldn't hear anything except the blood pounding in my ears.
the blood pounding in my ears.
My father sat across from me, his hands resting on the arms of his chair. The medical authorization layMy father sat across from me, his hands resting on the arms of his chair. The medical authorization lay between us, bearing his signature and my name.
Helen Brooks was still on the phone.
"Claire?"" she asked.
" between us, bearing his signature and my name.
Helen Brooks was still on the phone.
"Claire?"" she asked.
"Are you there?""
"Yes.""
"Please don't draw conclusions before we examine the original records. An authorization signatureAre you there?""
"Yes.""
"Please don't draw conclusions before we examine the original records. An authorization signature doesn't necessarily establish who ultimately controlled the account.""
I swallowed.
"Can you send the complete file to our attorney doesn't necessarily establish who ultimately controlled the account.""
I swallowed.
"Can you send the complete file to our attorney?""
"Already done. I'm also requesting the bank's archived authorization logs.""
"?""
"Already done. I'm also requesting the bank's archived authorization logs.""
"Thank you.""
I ended the call and looked at my father.
"Did you authorize an account in my name?""
He didn't answer immediately.
That silence frightened me more than aThank you.""
I ended the call and looked at my father.
"Did you authorize an account in my name?""
He didn't answer immediately.
That silence frightened me more than a denial would have.
Finally, he rubbed his palms against his trousers and said, "Yes denial would have.
Finally, he rubbed his palms against his trousers and said, "Yes.""
My stomach dropped.
"You did?""
"Claire, let me explain.""
"You opened a financial account using my identity?""
.""
My stomach dropped.
"You did?""
"Claire, let me explain.""
"You opened a financial account using my identity?""
"No. I authorized a trust-related account that was supposed to protect the money associated"No. I authorized a trust-related account that was supposed to protect the money associated with your mother's treatment.""
"Then why is my name on it?""
"Because Victor with your mother's treatment.""
"Then why is my name on it?""
"Because Victor claimed the funds had to be held for your benefit. He said the arrangement would prevent creditors from interfering with the medical claimed the funds had to be held for your benefit. He said the arrangement would prevent creditors from interfering with the medical payments.""
I stared at him.
"You let Victor Reed tell you how to protect Mom's money?""
"I believed payments.""
I stared at him.
"You let Victor Reed tell you how to protect Mom's money?""
"I believed the account was legitimate. I signed an authorization for a temporary arrangement, not for the transfers that followed.""
"Did the account was legitimate. I signed an authorization for a temporary arrangement, not for the transfers that followed.""
"Did you read the documents?""
His eyes dropped.
"Not carefully enough.""
A you read the documents?""
His eyes dropped.
"Not carefully enough.""
A bitter laugh escaped me.
All my life, my father had taught me that signatures mattered. He'd taught bitter laugh escaped me.
All my life, my father had taught me that signatures mattered. He'd taught me never to sign anything I didn't understand, never to trust a promise when a contract me never to sign anything I didn't understand, never to trust a promise when a contract could protect me, and never to let affection interfere with judgment.
Yet he'd signed a document could protect me, and never to let affection interfere with judgment.
Yet he'd signed a document he didn't fully understand because someone had promised to help my dying he didn't fully understand because someone had promised to help my dying mother.
And now that signature connected him to two million dollars that had vanished.
"Did you tell Mom?"" mother.
And now that signature connected him to two million dollars that had vanished.
"Did you tell Mom?"" I asked.
"Not until after the first transfer.""
"What did she say?""
"She was furious. She wanted me to contact the authorities immediately, I asked.
"Not until after the first transfer.""
"What did she say?""
"She was furious. She wanted me to contact the authorities immediately, but Victor threatened to challenge the medical arrangements and expose confidential information about the company. I thought I but Victor threatened to challenge the medical arrangements and expose confidential information about the company. I thought I could recover the money quietly.""
"Did you?""
"No.""
He looked directly at me.
"That's the truth could recover the money quietly.""
"Did you?""
"No.""
He looked directly at me.
"That's the truth, Claire. I made a mistake. I believed I could fix it before it reached you.""
I stood, gripping the back of my, Claire. I made a mistake. I believed I could fix it before it reached you.""
I stood, gripping the back of my chair.
"You let me marry a man who might have been involved in this from the beginning. You kept the original records from me. chair.
"You let me marry a man who might have been involved in this from the beginning. You kept the original records from me. And now I discover that my name was attached to money I never received.""
"I was trying to protect you.""
"Everyone keeps saying that.""
And now I discover that my name was attached to money I never received.""
"I was trying to protect you.""
"Everyone keeps saying that.""
My voice broke.
"Mom tried to protect me. You tried to protect me. Ethan claimed he was protecting me. And somehow, I'm the one left standingMy voice broke.
"Mom tried to protect me. You tried to protect me. Ethan claimed he was protecting me. And somehow, I'm the one left standing in the middle of a financial investigation I knew nothing about.""
My father rose slowly.
"I know.""
"No, in the middle of a financial investigation I knew nothing about.""
My father rose slowly.
"I know.""
"No, Dad. You don't.""
I turned away, pressing both hands against my stomach as my daughter shifted.
For years, I had believed my father was the Dad. You don't.""
I turned away, pressing both hands against my stomach as my daughter shifted.
For years, I had believed my father was the one person who would always tell me the truth, even when it hurt.
Now I didn't know which parts of our family's history had been real.
Margaret appeared one person who would always tell me the truth, even when it hurt.
Now I didn't know which parts of our family's history had been real.
Margaret appeared in the doorway.
"Arthur, the company's attorneys are here. They need to speak with in the doorway.
"Arthur, the company's attorneys are here. They need to speak with you immediately.""
My father nodded.
"Tell them I'll join them in five minutes.""
Margaret glanced you immediately.""
My father nodded.
"Tell them I'll join them in five minutes.""
Margaret glanced at me.
"Claire, are you all right?""
I couldn't answer.
She came closer and gently touched my shoulder.
"Your at me.
"Claire, are you all right?""
I couldn't answer.
She came closer and gently touched my shoulder.
"Your mother would want you to take care of yourself.""
That was the wrong thing to say.
I pulled away.
"Everyone keeps telling me what Mom mother would want you to take care of yourself.""
That was the wrong thing to say.
I pulled away.
"Everyone keeps telling me what Mom would want. She's been dead for three years. Maybe we should stop using her memory would want.
She's been dead for three years. Maybe we should stop using her memory to justify decisions she never got to explain.""
Margaret's eyes filled with tears.
"I'm sorry.""
I immediately regretted my to justify decisions she never got to explain.""
Margaret's eyes filled with tears.
"I'm sorry.""
I immediately regretted my tone, but I couldn't find the words to take it back.
My father picked up the medical authorization.
"The attorneys need to know tone, but I couldn't find the words to take it back.
My father picked up the medical authorization.
"The attorneys need to know about this.""
"Then tell them everything.""
"I will.""
"And don't about this.""
"Then tell them everything.""
"I will.""
"And don't leave anything out just because it makes you look guilty.""
He flinched.
Then he nodded.
I left the leave anything out just because it makes you look guilty.""
He flinched.
Then he nodded.
I left the boardroom before either of us could say anything else.
In the executive corridor, I found Vanessa boardroom before either of us could say anything else.
In the executive corridor, I found Vanessa standing beside the windows, speaking quietly to a woman from the company's legal department.
When she saw me, standing beside the windows, speaking quietly to a woman from the company's legal department.
When she saw me, she ended the conversation.
"Claire, what happened?""
"My father signed the authorization for the account.""
Her she ended the conversation.
"Claire, what happened?""
"My father signed the authorization for the account.""
Her face changed.
"Did he know where the money went?""
"He says he didn't.""
Vanessa looked toward the boardroom.
"Victor face changed.
"Did he know where the money went?""
"He says he didn't.""
Vanessa looked toward the boardroom.
"Victor told me Arthur approved the original transfer. He showed me a copy of the authorization.""
"Did you ever see the original?""
"No.""
"Did you see the bank records?""
She hes told me Arthur approved the original transfer. He showed me a copy of the authorization.""
"Did you ever see the original?""
"No.""
"Did you see the bank records?""
She hesitated.
"Yes.""
"When?""
"Last month. Ethan asked me to review the Meridian files before the anniversary dinner.""
itated.
"Yes.""
"When?""
"Last month. Ethan asked me to review the Meridian files before the anniversary dinner.""
I felt a cold knot form in my stomach.
"What did you find?""
Vanessa looked around toI felt a cold knot form in my stomach.
"What did you find?""
Vanessa looked around to make sure nobody was close enough to hear.
"The bank records showed that the money didn't make sure nobody was close enough to hear.
"The bank records showed that the money didn't go directly to Meridian. It went through three accounts. The last one belonged to a private investment company.""
"Who owned it?""
"I couldn't establish go directly to Meridian. It went through three accounts. The last one belonged to a private investment company.""
"Who owned it?""
"I couldn't establish the beneficial owner from the records I had.""
"Did you tell Ethan?""
"Yes.""
"What did he say?""
She looked down.
"He told me not the beneficial owner from the records I had.""
"Did you tell Ethan?""
"Yes.""
"What did he say?""
She looked down.
"He told me not to ask questions about the final transfer.""
I stared at her.
"And you agreed?""
"I to ask questions about the final transfer.""
I stared at her.
"And you agreed?""
"I was afraid of losing my position.""
I let out a slow breath.
"You're going to need a better reason than that when the investigators question you.""
was afraid of losing my position.""
I let out a slow breath.
"You're going to need a better reason than that when the investigators question you.""
"I know.""
For the first time, she didn't try to excuse herself.
She reached into her handbag and removed"I know.""
For the first time, she didn't try to excuse herself.
She reached into her handbag and removed a small flash drive.
"I copied the bank records before Ethan could erase them.""
I took it.
"Does a small flash drive.
"I copied the bank records before Ethan could erase them.""
I took it.
"Does anyone else know you have this?""
"Ethan suspects. That's why he demanded the original anyone else know you have this?""
"Ethan suspects. That's why he demanded the original documents.""
"Why didn't you give these to the board?""
"Because the last file contains documents.""
"Why didn't you give these to the board?""
"Because the last file contains a transaction that could implicate someone who hasn't been mentioned yet.""
I stared at her.
"Who?""
Vanessa swallowed.
"Your mother's former attorney.""
Before a transaction that could implicate someone who hasn't been mentioned yet.""
I stared at her.
"Who?""
Vanessa swallowed.
"Your mother's former attorney.""
Before I could respond, my phone rang.
An unfamiliar number.
I answered.
"Claire Hawthorne?""
"Yes.""
"This is I could respond, my phone rang.
An unfamiliar number.
I answered.
"Claire Hawthorne?""
"Yes.""
"This is Detective Laura Bennett with the financial crimes unit. Your company's counsel has provided preliminary information regarding the Detective Laura Bennett with the financial crimes unit. Your company's counsel has provided preliminary information regarding the Meridian transactions. We need to arrange an interview with you and your father.""
"When?""
"As soon as possible. Meridian transactions. We need to arrange an interview with you and your father.""
"When?""
"As soon as possible. There's one additional matter I need to bring to your attention.""
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"What matter?""
"We've identified a transfer from the account opened There's one additional matter I need to bring to your attention.""
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"What matter?""
"We've identified a transfer from the account opened in your name to an investment company that subsequently purchased shares in Hawthorne Industries.""
I stopped breathing in your name to an investment company that subsequently purchased shares in Hawthorne Industries.""
I stopped breathing.
"How many shares?""
"Enough to establish a significant minority position. We're still verifying the ownership.
"How many shares?""
"Enough to establish a significant minority position. We're still verifying the ownership records.""
I looked through the glass wall at my father, who was now speaking with two attorneys.
"Who owns records.""
I looked through the glass wall at my father, who was now speaking with two attorneys.
"Who owns the investment company?""
Detective Bennett paused.
"We believe the beneficial owner may be someone within the investment company?""
Detective Bennett paused.
"We believe the beneficial owner may be someone within your immediate family.""
I closed my eyes.
"Who?""
"We're not ready to make a your immediate family.""
I closed my eyes.
"Who?""
"We're not ready to make a formal allegation. But the name on the company's original registration is Arthur Hawthorne.""
My father had told formal allegation. But the name on the company's original registration is Arthur Hawthorne.""
My father had told me he'd authorized the account to protect my mother's medical expenses.
He hadn't told me that an investment company bearing his name had purchased shares in the me he'd authorized the account to protect my mother's medical expenses.
He hadn't told me that an investment company bearing his name had purchased shares in the business using money from that same account.
Perhaps he had been deceived.
Perhaps he had made another terrible mistake.
Or perhaps there was a part of this story business using money from that same account.
Perhaps he had been deceived.
Perhaps he had made another terrible mistake.
Or perhaps there was a part of this story he still wasn't willing to tell me.
I ended the call and turned toward the boardroom.
My father looked up through he still wasn't willing to tell me.
I ended the call and turned toward the boardroom.
My father looked up through the glass.
Our eyes met.
I held up the flash drive Vanessa had given me.
Then I pointed toward the door.
He understood.
For the glass.
Our eyes met.
I held up the flash drive Vanessa had given me.
Then I pointed toward the door.
He understood.
For the first time in my life, my father looked at me as though he was afraid of what I might discover.
And I knew that until I heard the first time in my life, my father looked at me as though he was afraid of what I might discover.
May you like
And I knew that until I heard the truth from his own mouth, I couldn't afford to trust him any more than I trusted the truth from his own mouth, I couldn't afford to trust him any more than I trusted Ethan.
Ethan.
Related Stories
