Chapter 16 - A DEAL WITH THE BRIDE
“No,” I said. “Anything you need to show me goes to Teresa.”
Paige was breathing quickly. “You don't understand. My father is going to sacrifice me to save himself.”
“You pushed me.”
“I know.”
“You joked while I was hurt.”
“I know that too.”
For one second she sounded like the young woman I'd met at a Sunday cookout, before every kindness became a transaction.
She explained that Graham's company had borrowed heavily against the proposed resort. A lender expected proof that the Cedar Point purchase was progressing. Paige had been promised an ownership share if she secured family cooperation.
“Was marrying Ryan part of securing cooperation?” I asked.
Her silence answered more than any speech.
“I loved him,” she said at last. “At least I think I did.”
“Love doesn't come with instructions to injure his mother.”
She began sobbing. I felt sad for her, which surprised me. Sadness did not make me less certain about pressing charges.
Paige offered to send the original draft of the sale agreement. I told her to provide it through counsel. Ten minutes later a file arrived at Teresa's office.
It included a message from Graham to Nolan: USE THE OLD OPTION AS BACKUP. MAKE THE SIGNATURE LOOK CONSISTENT. We did not yet know whether the message was authentic, but its details matched the forged paperwork.
Kayla independently produced the emails that instructed her to stamp the documents without witnessing my signature. Together they gave investigators a clear trail to examine.
Our lawyer prepared for the emergency court hearing scheduled the following week. Ryan offered to testify even though it meant describing his wife's actions publicly.
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That night Paige called him one last time.
“If you testify,” she said, “my father will make sure you hear what your dad owed him.”
