Chapter 2: The Signature That Wasn't Mine
I stared at the document.
The rain tapped against the porch roof while Daniel held his briefcase open beside me.
The transfer authorization was dated four months earlier.
It authorized the sale of 62 percent of Hayes Industrial Group to a private investment company called Northbridge Capital.
The sale price was listed as $18.4 million.
My signature appeared beneath the agreement.
It looked exactly like mine.
Almost.
“Where did you get this?”” I asked.
Daniel adjusted his glasses.
“From the company's electronic filing system. Our forensic accountant discovered it while investigating the unauthorized transfers.””
Vanessa suddenly stepped between us.
“That's confidential company information.””
Daniel didn't move.
“Your husband owns the company, Mrs. Hayes.””
“He hasn't been involved in operations for almost a year.””
“That doesn't change ownership.””
Derrick crossed his arms.
“Maybe you should let the lawyers handle this instead of creating a scene.””
I turned toward him.
“You seem unusually interested in my business.””
He gave a nervous laugh.
“I'm trying to help Vanessa.””
“Then perhaps you can explain why my signature appears on a document authorizing the sale of my company.””
Derrick looked at Vanessa.
She immediately answered.
“Because you approved it.””
“No, I didn't.””
“You were taking medication. You signed several documents during your hospitalization.””
“Not this one.””
Vanessa lifted her chin.
“You don't remember everything that happened during those months.””
It was a clever response.
If I denied signing something, she could blame my injuries.
If I questioned a financial transaction, she could claim my medication affected my judgment.
She had built an entire defense around the assumption that nobody would believe me.
Unfortunately for her, I had already spoken to my doctors.
And I had hired Daniel six weeks earlier.
“Robert,” I said, “show her.””
The accountant opened a second folder.
“We recovered the original digital file,” he explained.
“The signature was inserted into the document after the signing date. We also identified the device used to upload it.””
Vanessa's expression tightened.
“What device?””
Robert looked down at his notes.
“A laptop registered to the Hayes household.””
Derrick shifted his weight.
“Lots of people use the Wi-Fi here.””
Robert nodded.
“That's true. But the upload was made using a user account registered to Derrick Collins.””
Silence.
Vanessa turned toward him.
“Derrick?””
He shook his head.
“This is ridiculous. I use the household computer sometimes. That doesn't mean anything.””
Robert removed another sheet.
“The file was created at 11:42 p.m. on September 14. The digital signature was copied from a previous contract.””
I remembered September 14.
I had been at the rehabilitation center.
Vanessa had visited that afternoon and told me she needed to attend a charity dinner.
I had asked her to stay.
She had kissed my cheek and promised she would return early.
She hadn't come back until the following morning.
Now I knew where she had been.
I looked at her.
“Were you at home that night?””
Vanessa's eyes flickered.
“I don't remember.””
“You told me you were at a charity dinner.””
“I was.””
“Then why did Derrick's account upload a document transferring my company?””
She raised her voice.
“Because he was helping me manage your business!””
Daniel closed his briefcase.
“Thank you for confirming that Mr. Collins had access to your husband's business files.””
Vanessa realized her mistake.
Her mouth opened.
Then closed.
Derrick grabbed her wrist.
“Stop talking.””
I noticed the movement.
So did Daniel.
“Mr. Collins,” he said, “I'd advise you not to touch anyone while we're discussing potentially fraudulent activity.””
Derrick released her.
“This is a private disagreement between a husband and wife.””
“No,” I said.
“It's a business investigation.””
I looked at Robert.
“How much money?””
He opened the folder again.
“Based on the records we have recovered, approximately $4.7 million was transferred from company accounts over seven months.””
My stomach tightened.
“Where?””
“Several offshore accounts. Most transactions passed through a consulting company called DC Strategic Solutions.””
I looked at Derrick.
His initials.
DC.
“You created a consulting company?””
He shrugged, trying to recover his confidence.
“It's legitimate.””
“Then why was it paid $680,000 for consulting services that nobody at my company can identify?””
Derrick said nothing.
Vanessa stepped forward.
“Marcus, listen to me. You don't understand what happened.””
“Then explain it.””
She looked at Daniel.
“Can we speak privately?””
“No,” I said.
Her eyes filled with tears.
It was the expression I had seen countless times during our marriage.
The trembling lips.
The lowered chin.
The carefully controlled breathing.
It had once made me apologize even when I wasn't wrong.
Not today.
“Marcus, I was scared,” she whispered.
“You were in the hospital. The company was struggling. I thought I was protecting our future.””
“You transferred millions of dollars to Derrick's company?””
“He was helping me!””
“By stealing from me?””
“Don't call it stealing!””
Her voice cracked.
For the first time that afternoon, she looked genuinely frightened.
Daniel placed another document on the porch table.
“There's also the matter of the property transfer.””
I frowned.
“What property transfer?””
“The house.””
I turned toward him.
“What about it?””
Daniel pointed to a paragraph.
“Three weeks ago, ownership of this property was transferred into a company called Silver Oak Holdings.””
I stared at the paper.
“That company belongs to me.””
“No, Marcus. It doesn't.””
He turned the page.
“The registered owner is Vanessa Hayes.””
I looked at my wife.
She slowly wiped her eyes.
Then something changed in her expression.
The fear disappeared.
“You should have signed the papers when I asked you,” she said quietly.
I stared at her.
“What papers?””
“The power-of-attorney documents. The ones you refused to sign.””
Daniel's expression hardened.
“Mrs. Hayes, those documents are precisely why we are here.””
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
“You think you're going to take everything back?””
I didn't answer.
She pointed toward the driveway.
“You're not even fully recovered. You think standing for five minutes makes you a businessman again?””
I felt a familiar pain shoot through my hip.
She was right about one thing.
I wasn't fully recovered.
But I was standing.
And I wasn't going anywhere.
“Vanessa,” I said, “you have one chance to tell me the truth.””
She looked at Derrick.
He looked away.
Then she smiled.
“Fine. You want the truth?””
She stepped closer.
“I never intended to stay married to you.””
The words hit harder than I expected.
She continued.
“I was waiting for the right moment to get everything transferred. The house, the investments, the company shares. Once the sale went through, I would have had enough money to start over.””
“With Derrick?””
She didn't answer.
Derrick finally spoke.
“Don't drag me into this.””
I almost smiled.
“Interesting. I thought you were helping her.””
Vanessa spun toward him.
“Derrick, don't.””
But he was already backing away.
Daniel's phone vibrated.
He checked the screen, then looked at me.
“Marcus, we have a problem.””
“What now?””
“Northbridge Capital has scheduled the final payment for tomorrow morning.””
I frowned.
“Why is that a problem?””
Daniel turned his phone toward me.
The screen displayed a message from an unknown number.
The transaction cannot be stopped. Your wife already sold the remaining shares.
I read it twice.
Then I looked at Vanessa.
She was smiling again.
May you like
And that was when I realized the document in Daniel's hand was only part of the betrayal.
“Marcus,” Daniel said quietly, “someone has already taken control of your company.””
