Chapter 2: The Man Who Witnessed My Forgery
"That's a misunderstanding.""
Nathan finally spoke.
His voice was controlled, but his fingers had tightened around Stephanie's wrist.
Alexander didn't move.
"Then explain it.""
Nathan glanced at Mr. Bennett.
"The document was prepared by an accountant. I was asked to witness it.""
"By whom?""
"Stephanie.""
My sister immediately shook her head.
"Don't put this on me.""
Nathan turned toward her.
"You told me your mother had approved everything.""
"She did!""
"Then why didn't you tell me the signature was forged?""
The words escaped his mouth before he could stop them.
The entire chapel went silent.
Stephanie stared at him.
I stared at both of them.
Alexander slowly closed the folder.
"Interesting.""
Nathan rubbed his forehead.
"I didn't mean—"
"Actually," Alexander interrupted, "I think you meant exactly what you said.""
Mr. Bennett raised a hand.
"Perhaps we should move this conversation to my office. There are still mourners present.""
Stephanie looked relieved.
"Yes. That's probably best.""
She turned toward me.
"Claire, can you please stop letting your husband attack us? This is Mother's funeral.""
I looked at the coffin.
Then back at her.
"You wore your engagement ring beside her coffin and announced your inheritance before the burial flowers had dried. Don't lecture me about respect.""
Her cheeks flushed.
Alexander placed his hand against my back.
"We're leaving for the cemetery shortly. But Mr. Bennett needs to hear everything before we go.""
The attorney nodded.
"Both sisters should come to my office tomorrow morning.""
Stephanie's expression changed.
"Why both?""
"Because both signatures appear on the disputed documents.""
Nathan stepped forward.
"I'm coming too.""
Alexander looked at him.
"That would be unwise.""
Nathan laughed nervously.
"I have nothing to hide.""
"Then you won't mind explaining your involvement under oath.""
For a moment, I thought Nathan might actually strike him.
Instead, he stepped back.
We left the chapel twenty minutes later.
The rain had become heavier.
Alexander opened the passenger door of his black sedan while I stood beneath the entrance awning.
I couldn't stop thinking about the signature.
Someone had used my name to steal from my mother.
And someone had known enough about my relationship with her to make the lie believable.
"Alex?""
He looked up.
"Yes?""
"Did you know about this?""
He paused.
That pause was enough to make my stomach tighten.
"Not the forged document," he said.
"But I knew your mother was worried about something.""
"What did she tell you?""
"She called me six weeks ago.""
I stared at him.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"She asked me not to.""
I pulled my coat tighter.
"Alex, she was my mother.""
"I know.""
"Then why would she tell you something she wouldn't tell me?""
He reached for my hand.
"Because she was afraid you would confront Stephanie before she had enough evidence.""
I looked away.
That sounded exactly like my mother.
Even when she was dying, she had been trying to protect everyone from the consequences of Stephanie's actions.
"What was she afraid of?""
Alexander opened the car door wider.
"Let's get through tomorrow first.""
I hated that answer.
But I got into the car.
The following morning, we arrived at Bennett & Associates at nine thirty.
Stephanie was already there.
She wore a cream-colored designer coat and carried a handbag that I recognized immediately.
It had belonged to our mother.
A small gold clasp was missing from the front.
Mother had spent weeks searching for that clasp before she died.
"Nice bag," I said.
Stephanie glanced down.
"Thanks. Mom gave it to me.""
"When?""
"Last Christmas.""
I looked at her.
"She was in the hospital last Christmas.""
Stephanie sighed.
"Claire, do you really want to argue about a handbag?""
"No.""
"Good.""
Nathan sat beside her, scrolling through his phone.
When we entered, he quickly locked the screen.
Alexander noticed.
So did I.
Mr. Bennett invited us into the conference room.
A long wooden table separated us.
He placed several documents in front of each chair.
"Before we begin, I want to clarify that no transfer was completed. The disputed request was flagged because of inconsistencies in the signatures and supporting authorization.""
Stephanie folded her hands.
"That's wonderful. So we can forget this ridiculous accusation.""
"No," Mr. Bennett replied.
"We cannot.""
He removed a printed bank statement.
"Three weeks before your mother's death, a withdrawal of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars was attempted from the estate's primary investment account.""
Stephanie stared at the paper.
"That wasn't me.""
"Your name appears on the authorization.""
"I told you, I didn't do it.""
Nathan shifted in his chair.
Alexander leaned forward.
"Mr. Bennett, who received the money?""
"The transfer was directed to an account belonging to Hayes Consulting Group.""
I looked at Nathan.
He didn't move.
"What is Hayes Consulting Group?"" I asked.
Nathan cleared his throat.
"My company.""
Stephanie turned toward him.
"You told me that money came from an investor.""
"It did.""
"Who?""
Nathan didn't answer.
Mr. Bennett slid another document across the table.
"The attempted transfer was rejected. However, a separate payment of forty-eight thousand dollars was successfully made from your mother's personal account.""
Stephanie stood.
"That's impossible!""
"Please sit down," the attorney said.
"Mother never gave me access to her account!""
I looked at her.
"Then how did the money leave?""
Stephanie's eyes filled with tears.
For a moment, she looked like the little girl who used to hide behind my bedroom door after breaking something.
Then she pointed at me.
"She's doing this. Claire has always hated me. She married a rich man, and now she wants to make sure I get nothing.""
Alexander remained still.
I felt my face grow hot.
"You're the one who took the money.""
"Prove it!""
Mr. Bennett raised his hand.
"Actually, we have a witness.""
He opened a separate folder.
A photocopy of a medical authorization appeared.
Then a visitor log from the hospital.
And finally, a handwritten statement.
Stephanie's name appeared at the bottom.
She stopped breathing.
"Where did you get that?""
Mr. Bennett looked at her.
"From your mother's private medical file.""
Stephanie snatched the paper.
Her eyes moved across the lines.
Then she dropped it.
Nathan leaned over.
"What does it say?""
Mr. Bennett answered before she could.
"It states that Stephanie Carter requested access to her mother's financial records while Mrs. Carter was under heavy sedation.""
I looked at my sister.
"You went through her financial records?""
Stephanie shook her head.
"I was helping her.""
"Then why did you tell the hospital you were her legal representative?""
"I was her daughter!""
"So was I.""
She slammed her palm against the table.
"You were never there!""
I stood.
"I was there every night you were busy planning your wedding!""
Nathan rose too.
"Enough!""
Alexander finally spoke.
"Sit down, Nathan.""
Nathan looked at him.
"You don't get to order me around.""
Alexander's expression didn't change.
"Then consider it a courtesy.""
Mr. Bennett interrupted.
"There is one more issue.""
He removed a sealed envelope.
"Your mother instructed me to open this only if a fraudulent estate transfer was discovered.""
My heart began pounding.
The envelope was addressed in our mother's handwriting.
Claire.
Not Stephanie.
Not both daughters.
Only me.
Mr. Bennett slid it across the table.
I recognized the handwriting immediately.
My mother's familiar slanted letters.
My fingers trembled as I broke the seal.
Inside was a single sheet of paper.
My darling Claire,
If you are reading this, then I was right to be afraid.
Your sister is not acting alone.
And the man who helped her is someone you once trusted with your future.
I stopped reading.
Nathan's face had gone pale.
Stephanie stared at the letter.
Alexander leaned toward me.
"What does the next line say?""
I turned the page.
And there, beneath my mother's final sentence, was a name.
Not Nathan's.
Not Stephanie's.
May you like
A name I hadn't heard in twenty years.
My father's.
