Chapter 5 - The Future Signature
By midnight, the garden party had become evidence.
Tessa collected phones from staff who had recorded anything. My attorney, Renee Park, arrived from the city wearing jeans under a raincoat and the expression of someone already angry on my behalf.
She studied the guardianship petition.
"This was prepared before today."
"How long before?"
"Long enough to obtain financial exhibits, medical summaries, and witness statements."
One witness statement was from Daniel's assistant.
Another was from a psychiatrist I had never met.
The third made me stop breathing.
It was signed by my father.
I turned the page toward him.
"Explain."
Dad's face drained.
The statement claimed Elliot Whitmore had observed "increasingly erratic conduct" and supported temporary restrictions on my authority.
"I did not sign that."
Renee examined it.
"The signature is good."
"Because someone copied it."
Dad walked to a wall cabinet and opened a drawer containing old corporate resolutions.
Two folders were missing.
"Daniel had access to these?" Renee asked.
"As family counsel on several transactions, yes."
I stared at Dad.
Daniel had not just married into my family.
We had handed him the paper, passwords, schedules, and private weaknesses needed to build a case against me.
At 12:43 a.m., my therapist called.
She sounded frightened.
"Mara, Daniel came to my office last week. He said you had authorized him to pick up records. I refused."
"Did you sign a declaration?"
"Absolutely not."
"Did anyone from your office send him anything?"
Silence.
"My assistant quit yesterday."
Renee closed her eyes.
"Name?"
"Beth Nolan."
Tessa typed quickly.
Then she looked up.
"Beth Nolan received a wire for eighty-five thousand dollars three days ago."
"From Daniel?"
"No."
She rotated her laptop.
The sender was R&M Strategic.
Marcus Reed's company.
Then the house phone rang.
May you like
The night gate officer spoke so loudly I could hear him from across the room.
"Ms. Ward, there's a man outside asking for Mara. He says his name is Adrian Vale."
