Chapter 5: The Signature That Could Not Exist
David read the document again.
Then he looked directly at Thomas.
“Where did you get this?””
Thomas adjusted his expensive cufflinks.
“From the family court.””
“Danielle signed this?””
“Her signature is right there.””
David held the paper up.
“Danielle was admitted to the hospital unconscious this morning. She hasn't been medically cleared to make legal decisions.””
Thomas smiled.
“Then perhaps you should ask her doctor.””
Margaret stepped closer.
“Mr. Bennett, this document needs independent verification.””
Thomas turned toward her.
“Are you questioning a court order?””
“I'm questioning a signature obtained from a woman who was receiving emergency treatment.””
“Be careful, Margaret. Your position depends on the bank's board, and the board has no interest in your personal crusade.””
David placed the document on the counter.
“Until we verify its authenticity, Jayden is not leaving this building with you.””
Thomas's smile disappeared.
“You don't have that authority.””
“I have a responsibility to protect the bank's protected beneficiary.””
“He is my grandson!””
“He is also a child whose mother is fighting for her health. You're not taking advantage of that situation.””
Thomas stepped closer.
“You have no idea what you're getting involved in.””
David met his eyes.
“I know exactly what I'm involved in.””
Thomas turned toward Jayden.
“Come here, son.””
Jayden immediately moved behind Mrs. Parker.
Thomas sighed.
“Don't be frightened. I'm your grandfather.””
Jayden shook his head.
“My mommy said I shouldn't go with strangers.””
For the first time, Thomas looked genuinely irritated.
“I'm not a stranger.””
“You don't know my name.””
Thomas paused.
Then he laughed.
“Of course I know your name. You're Jayden.””
“What does my sister like to eat?””
Thomas glanced at the baby.
“What?””
“What does Amara like?””
“Children's food, I suppose.””
Jayden tightened his arms around the little blue book.
“She drinks formula. And she likes when I sing the moon song.””
Thomas stared at him.
“That's enough.””
David stepped forward.
“Don't speak to him like that.””
Thomas closed his briefcase.
“This is becoming tiresome. I have a legal order, and I intend to use it.””
He turned toward the security officers.
“Please escort my grandson to the car.””
Neither officer moved.
Margaret spoke firmly.
“Until the document is authenticated, nobody is removing a child from this premises.””
Thomas's expression turned vicious.
“You've forgotten who helped you get this job.””
Margaret's face remained steady.
“I remember exactly who hired me. Evelyn Bennett. And I remember the promise she made when she appointed me.””
Thomas laughed.
“My mother made a lot of promises.””
“She promised that no employee would ever be punished for protecting someone who needed help.””
“Your loyalty to a dead woman is touching.””
Margaret looked at him.
“Then why are you so afraid of what she left behind?””
Silence.
For the first time, Thomas had no immediate answer.
David used the moment to take a photograph of the court order.
He sent it to the bank's legal department and requested an emergency verification.
Then he called the hospital again.
“Dr. Morris, I need to speak with Danielle's attending physician.””
A nurse transferred the call.
A tired male voice answered.
“This is Dr. Carter.””
“I'm David Whitmore from Bennett National. I need to verify whether Danielle Bennett has signed any legal documents today.””
“Absolutely not.””
David closed his eyes briefly.
“Can you confirm that?””
“She was unconscious during the morning procedures. She regained consciousness approximately twenty minutes ago, but she's still under observation. She hasn't signed anything.””
“Thank you.””
David ended the call and looked at Thomas.
“The hospital confirms your document is fraudulent.””
Thomas didn't flinch.
“Doctors make mistakes.””
“Not about whether a patient signed a document.””
“Prove it.””
David held up his phone.
“I've just requested a written medical statement.””
Thomas leaned closer.
“You're making a very expensive enemy.””
David lowered his voice.
“Then perhaps you should have considered that before threatening a child.””
At that moment, Margaret's computer chimed again.
An email had arrived from the bank's internal legal department.
She opened it.
Her expression changed.
“David.””
“What?””
“They've identified the notary on the guardianship document.””
“And?””
Margaret swallowed.
“It's Robert Haines.””
David frowned.
“Who is Robert Haines?””
Margaret turned the monitor toward him.
A photograph appeared.
Robert Haines had been Bennett National's former chief legal officer.
He had resigned three years earlier after Evelyn Bennett accused him of altering trust documents.
David stared.
“That's impossible.””
Thomas gave a small smile.
“Is it?””
Margaret looked at him.
“Why would a former bank attorney notarize a guardianship document?””
Thomas closed his briefcase.
“Perhaps because he understands the law better than you do.””
Then he reached into his pocket and placed a small envelope on the counter.
“There's something else you should know.””
David didn't touch it.
“What is it?””
Thomas tapped the envelope.
“Your beloved founder's death certificate.””
Margaret frowned.
“We already have her death certificate.””
“Not the original.””
Thomas opened the envelope.
Inside was a photocopy bearing Evelyn Bennett's name.
But something was wrong.
The date of death listed on the document was six months earlier than the date on the official bank records.
David stared at the page.
“That isn't possible.””
Thomas nodded.
“That's what I said.””
He placed another document beside it.
A copy of a life insurance policy.
The beneficiary was listed as Thomas Bennett.
And the policy had been paid.
Margaret looked sick.
“Are you suggesting Evelyn died before the bank announced her death?””
Thomas leaned back.
“I'm suggesting that my mother had secrets. Secrets that could destroy this bank if the wrong people found them.””
Jayden watched the adults.
He didn't understand the documents.
But he understood the way they were looking at his grandmother's name.
He slowly reached into his backpack.
“Grandma said something.””
Everyone turned.
Jayden pulled out a folded piece of paper that had been tucked inside the back cover of the blue passbook.
“I forgot this was here.””
David took it carefully.
The paper contained a short handwritten message.
If Thomas ever tells you I am dead, ask him where he buried the first key.
David read it twice.
Then he looked at Thomas.
“Where is the first key?””
Thomas's face changed.
Just slightly.
But enough.
Margaret noticed.
So did Jayden.
Thomas reached for the paper.
David pulled it away.
“Don't touch it.””
Thomas's voice dropped.
“Give me that.””
“No.””
For a moment, the two men stood facing each other.
Then Thomas whispered:
“Your grandmother was not the woman you think she was.””
David replied:
“And you are not the man she raised you to be.””
Thomas turned toward the elevator.
“Enjoy your little victory.””
He pressed the button.
Before the doors closed, he looked directly at Jayden.
“You'll understand soon enough, boy. Your grandmother didn't leave you a fortune. She left you a mess.””
The elevator doors shut.
Margaret exhaled.
But David was still staring at the handwritten message.
“The first key,” he murmured.
Mrs. Parker stepped forward.
“Evelyn told me something about that.””
David looked up.
“What?””
“She said there was a place beneath the original bank building. A room she used before the company became successful.””
Margaret frowned.
“There's no basement beneath this branch.””
“Not this branch,” Mrs. Parker replied.
She looked at David.
“The original building. The one on Franklin Street.””
David's face went pale.
That building had been demolished twenty years earlier.
Or at least, that was what the official records said.
May you like
And according to the bank's archived property documents, the demolition had been approved by one person.
Thomas Bennett.
