Chapter 12 - The Signature in the Hospital
“Mom couldn't have signed that,” Madison said. “She couldn't even hold a pen.”
Patrice examined the signature. “It's electronic. Somebody may have used an old authorization.”
Richard stared at the document until he seemed unable to breathe. “I let this man into every room.”
“You let him make decisions for you,” Elaine said from the doorway.
Madison hurried to steady her mother. “You're supposed to be upstairs.”
“I'm supposed to stop hiding.”
Elaine sat slowly. “Graham called the hospital. He said the charity would collapse if I didn't approve the transfer. I refused. The signature was used anyway.”
“Did you record that call?” Patrice asked.
“No. But the hospital may have a visitor or call log.”
“Good. Don't contact him again.”
Nora phoned Ruth from the driveway. “I think Mom's papers can help prove what happened.”
“I found something,” Ruth replied. “She kept the copy of the mailing receipt, and a notebook with dates. I'll bring it tomorrow.”
“You don't have to travel.”
“She fought alone long enough.”
Nora heard Ruth's kitchen screen door bang in the wind. She pictured the little table where her mother had counted coins after losing her job.
“Grandma, I don't want anybody using Mom's story to buy my silence.”
“Then don't sell it.”
Back inside, Madison was waiting by the staircase.
“I owe you more than an apology,” she said.
“An apology would be a start.”
Madison looked pained. “I was a kid when Emberwood happened. But last year Graham asked me to put our charitable giving into a new marketing account. I didn't ask who ran it.”
“Can you show that to Patrice?”
May you like
“Yes.”
She hesitated, then added, “There's one more thing. I recognize that account from the money Mom set aside for the clinic after patients were hospitalized.”
