Chapter 8 - A SIGNATURE THAT WASN'T MINEEleanor spread three documents across her conference table. One was my real signature from an old military benefits form. The others were on a property transfer authorization and a power of attorney I'd never seen.
"They copied the angle on your D," she said. "But the final stroke is wrong."
"Can we stop the sale?"
"We're moving to challenge the documents and notify the closing agent immediately. I won't promise how fast every system responds."
I wanted a soldier's answer: Find the target. End the threat. Instead we had phone calls, filings, and a clock that wouldn't slow down.
Eleanor called the title company on speakerphone. The closing was scheduled for eleven the next morning. Their representative sounded alarmed when she heard the signatures were disputed and confirmed that the file would be flagged for review.
"Who's the buyer?" I asked.
Eleanor checked the agreement. "Cedar Crest Holdings, LLC."
"Never heard of it."
"Neither have I."
While Eleanor searched the public business records, Chen sent a message: MR. BELL LOCATED. POSSIBLE NOTARY FRAUD. MEET ME AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
The man was named Warren Bell, a struggling mobile notary. At first he claimed he had watched Mom sign everything. Chen showed him a hospital record placing Mom in an emergency clinic on the date written beside the signature.
His story changed.
"Carlos said she signed earlier," Bell admitted. "I only stamped it. I needed the money."
"How much?" Chen asked.
"Eight hundred dollars."
For eight hundred dollars, somebody had put my mother's home at risk.
Bell swallowed. "I can show you the messages. But I wasn't the one who created the buyer."
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Eleanor's phone buzzed. She studied the business filing, then looked straight at me.
"Daniel. Cedar Crest Holdings was registered using Carlos's home address."
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