Chapter 3 - THE SIGNATURE THAT WASN'T MINE
By nine the next morning, Lois and I sat in a diner off Preston Road with two untouched cups of coffee. The notary, Gabrielle Mills, arrived carrying a folder and looking as though she hadn't slept.
“I found your number in the old loan file,” she said. “Someone used my commission number on a release.”
“Did you notarize it?” I asked.
“I was in Oklahoma visiting my sister on the date shown. I have gas receipts, hotel records, everything.” She laid down a copy. “That's not my stamp, either. It's close, but they copied the old design.”
My name appeared on the bottom line, slanted like it had always been. Even the second E had its familiar loop. Jessica had watched me sign birthday cards for years. I felt suddenly sick.
“Who filed it?” Lois asked.
“An electronic recording service submitted it to the county,” Gabrielle replied. “I can't tell you who supplied the document. You'll need an attorney.”
I called Priya Shah, a property lawyer Frank used to trust. She asked me to bring the original note, the deed of trust, and every bank receipt I could find.
“Don't confront anyone about a forged signature yet,” Priya warned. “And don't delete a single message.”
“Wouldn't dream of it.”
Gabrielle hesitated. “There is another reason I contacted you. I called the title company listed on the release. They told me the house is under contract.”
I gripped the coffee cup. “How long?”
“Closing is scheduled for Tuesday morning.”
My birthday had been Saturday. Jessica intended to turn seventy years of family history into cash before I could finish sweeping its glass from my shoes.
On our way out, Lois showed me a short video from the party. Her phone had captured Jessica's elbow deliberately driving into the frame. It also caught Michael moving toward Jessica before the picture struck the ground, as if he'd expected trouble.
“Why didn't he stop her?” I whispered.
Lois touched my arm. “That's what you need to ask him.”
Then Michael called. He didn't say hello.
“Mom, why did a real estate agent just tell me our house is being sold?”
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