Chapter 5 - THE SIGNATURE
Lily was admitted overnight for observation. Her tests showed medication in her system that had never been prescribed to her.
The doctor chose his words carefully.
“This is serious, Mr. Hart.”
Daniel looked through the glass at Lily sleeping under a yellow blanket. “Will she be okay?”
“We expect the effects to clear. But we need a complete history.”
His attorney, Maya Chen, arrived at seven carrying coffee and a legal pad.
Daniel told her everything.
Maya didn’t interrupt until he showed her the insurance document.
“That signature is a problem,” she said.
“It’s forged.”
“I believe you. But whoever submitted it had access to your identification, financial information, and probably your digital signature files.”
“Melissa had access to the house.”
“So did Grant?”
“Sometimes.”
Maya tapped the paper. “You own Hart Systems. Your company stores contracts, payroll files, executive signatures. Could someone close to you access them?”
Daniel’s face tightened.
Hart Systems was a cybersecurity company.
“Not without leaving a trail.”
“Then find the trail.”
Omar listened, stunned.
“You think somebody inside the company stole your signature?”
“I think somebody gave Melissa what she needed.”
Omar pulled access logs.
They searched three weeks of records.
At 2:13 a.m. on a Sunday, Daniel’s personal signature vault had been accessed.
Not from his home.
From inside Hart Systems.
Badge used: executive floor.
User credentials: Daniel Hart.
“That’s impossible,” Daniel said. “I was in Milwaukee that weekend.”
Omar kept typing.
“Who knew your backup code?”
“No one.”
His chief operating officer.
His best friend since college.
Evan Pierce.
Daniel stared at the screen.
Omar said nothing.
Then Daniel’s phone buzzed.
A text from an unknown number.
STOP DIGGING OR YOU’LL LOSE MORE THAN YOUR COMPANY.
May you like
A second message arrived immediately.
Attached was a photo of Lily’s empty hospital bed.
