Chapter 5 - The Folder With My Name
Dad’s attorney, Susan Parker, arrived before he did.
She was sixty, sharp, and calm enough to make panic feel embarrassing.
I showed her the video.
She watched it twice.
Then asked, “Do you recognize the delivery man?”
“No.”
Dad did not.
Susan paused the frame.
No local office.
Susan looked at Dad’s checkbook.
“Any missing checks?”
Dad opened the online account.
His face changed.
$4,800.
$7,200.
$11,500.
All signed Richard Collins.
Dad stared.
“I didn’t write these.”
Karen stood across the living room.
“This is insane.”
Susan asked, “Did you?”
Karen laughed.
“You’re accusing me of forgery because a camera caught me holding papers?”
Dad looked at her.
“Who was the man?”
“A contractor.”
“For what?”
“Home repairs.”
Susan said, “At 7:26 at night?”
Karen glared.
“No,” Susan said. “But you may have to answer someone.”
Dad sat down.
He looked older.
“Karen, did you use my checks?”
“No.”
“Did you copy Daniel’s signature?”
She looked at me.
Dad saw it.
He asked again.
“Did you forge Daniel’s signature?”
“No.”
I said, “Then you won’t mind if Susan takes the folder.”
Karen lunged for it.
Susan moved first.
She picked it up.
Karen stopped.
Inside were draft documents transferring Dad’s house into a family trust.
Trustee: Karen Collins.
Karen’s son.
I allegedly agreed to surrender any future claim connected to my mother’s half of the property.
Dad had inherited her share.
And he had always told me the house would eventually pass equally to me and my sister.
Susan read the waiver.
Karen said nothing.
Susan turned the page.
Then she froze.
“What?”
She showed Dad.
A notary stamp.
Signed by someone named Patricia Wynn.
Dad whispered, “Patty?”
I knew the name.
Karen’s sister.
A licensed notary.
Susan looked at Karen.
Then someone knocked.
Police.
Karen smiled.
For one second, I thought she had called them.
Then the officer asked for me.
“Mr. Collins?”
May you like
“Yes?”
“We received a report that you threatened your stepmother.”
