Chapter 10 - My Father's Signature
My father, Edward Carter, had been dead four years.
Yet his signature appeared on the original investment authorization that started the entire mess.
At first, I felt betrayed all over again.
Then Peter examined it.
"This one may be genuine."
I stared at him.
"You're sure?"
"We need an expert. But the metadata dates to six years ago."
Before my father's final illness.
Before Vanessa entered my life.
Before Claire became compliance chief.
Rachel found the board packet.
Edward approved a limited investment of $3 million into a medical technology fund recommended by Marcus.
Instead of reporting the loss, Marcus and Thomas rolled additional money into side agreements and used fake consulting work to fill holes.
My father's signature had been copied onto later documents after his health deteriorated.
Claire discovered the difference.
That was why Marcus feared her.
My father made one bad investment.
Marcus turned it into a machine for hiding losses.
Thomas helped because he was terrified of public disgrace.
Vanessa joined later because she realized fake vendors could carry her own transfers too.
I asked Rachel, "How much?"
She slid a report across the table.
"Total questionable movement over six years? About $6.4 million."
"And Claire's post-death approvals?"
"$2.1 million."
Two million dollars authorized by a dead woman.
That phrase ended up on every news site once the board disclosed the investigation.
Carter Holdings stock fell.
Reporters gathered outside my house.
Vanessa's attorney released a statement accusing me of using "a private family tragedy" to seize control of the company.
I almost admired the nerve.
"We located Marcus."
"Where?"
"Airport hotel."
"Was he leaving?"
"He had a ticket to Lisbon."
He was arrested on financial and evidence-related charges while investigators continued reviewing Claire's death.
Vanessa was not arrested that day.
Ortiz reminded me:
"We arrest on evidence, Daniel. Not on your certainty."
Claire would have said the same thing.
Then Marcus's seized phone produced a message from Vanessa, sent the night Claire died.
Not a confession.
Four words.
May you like
Don't call Daniel yet.
The timestamp was forty-seven minutes before the ambulance call.
