Chapter 2 - The Signature
I left my mother’s birthday dinner without touching the cake.
By the time I reached Caldwell Street, two police cruisers were parked at the curb and Dileia was standing on the sidewalk with the couple from the video.
The woman introduced herself as Sandra Holt.
“We thought this was legitimate,” she said. “Your sister sent us disclosures.”
Dileia cut in. “Renata, don’t make a scene.”
I looked at the key in her hand.
“Where did you get that?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
Officer Reyes stepped between us before I could answer.
“It matters to the report.”
Dileia folded her arms.
“I was trying to help.”
Sandra gave a short, stunned laugh.
“You told us you represented the seller.”
Dileia’s face tightened.
“I do.”
“No,” I said. “You don’t.”
Greg Holt pulled out his phone.
“We signed an offer this afternoon.”
My stomach dropped.
He showed me a PDF.
At the bottom was a signature that looked enough like mine to fool someone who had never watched me sign my name.
Renata Collins.
Under it: Seller.
I stared at Dileia.
“You forged my signature?”
Her mouth opened, but nothing came out.
Officer Reyes asked Greg to forward the document.
Dileia finally snapped.
“I found buyers. You were just letting the place sit there.”
“It’s mine.”
“We could have split the profit.”
“There is no we.”
That was the moment she stopped looking embarrassed and started looking angry.
“You always think you’re better than everybody because you save money.”
I didn’t answer.
I turned to the officer.
“What happens now?”
He said the report would include unauthorized entry and suspected document fraud.
Dileia’s face changed at the word fraud.
Then Greg spoke again.
“There’s something else you should know.”
May you like
He opened another email.
“We already wired five thousand dollars.”
