Chapter 13 - A Dead Lawyer's Signature
Rebecca Sloan had died in a boating accident off Monterey.
At least, that was the official story.
The trust amendment bearing her signature had been notarized four months after her death.
"Someone is using her identity," Marcus said.
The Nevada law office turned out to be a mail drop. Payments for its services came from the same shell company Richard had once owned with Rebecca.
Investigators subpoenaed the bank.
The account holder was not Richard.
It was my mother.
I stared at the report until Evelyn quietly asked whether I needed a minute.
"My mother has Alzheimer's. She has lived in assisted care for two years."
"Which makes her identity useful," Marcus said grimly.
Someone had opened accounts in her name, moved money through them, and used her signature on corporate filings.
Richard had not only tried to kill me.
He had been exploiting my mother.
We searched her financial records.
Over eighteen months, almost six million dollars had moved through accounts she could not possibly have managed.
Then a nurse from her facility called me privately.
"Mrs. Hayes, your husband visited your mother many times."
"Richard?"
"Yes. He always asked us to leave them alone."
My stomach twisted.
"Did she ever sign anything?"
The nurse hesitated.
"I saw papers once."
"What kind?"
"I don't know. But after he left, your mother kept saying one sentence."
"What sentence?"
The nurse lowered her voice.
"She said, 'I told him no, but he held my hand anyway.'"
I closed my eyes.
Then another call came in.
May you like
Richard had been released pending further investigation.
And nobody knew where he had gone.
