Chapter 4 - The Signature
The email contained a document called TEMPORARY FAMILY CARE AUTHORIZATION. It carried Daniel's name, an electronic signature, and a statement that he was overwhelmed by grief and unable to supervise Noah safely.
"I didn't write this," he told his attorney, Simone Hart.
"Don't click anything else," she replied. "Send me the original message, including the signing certificate."
"It says Vanessa can make decisions for Noah."
"That doesn't make it valid. But someone wants a paper trail."
Simone had handled Elise's estate after the funeral. Her voice tightened when Daniel mentioned Vanessa's complaint about Maria.
"Come to my office tomorrow," she said. "Bring every device you can secure. And don't let Vanessa back into the house without a plan."
Daniel looked down at Noah, asleep in a portable crib beside his desk. He had set the crib there because he was suddenly afraid to let a wall come between them.
"Why would she need paperwork?" he asked.
"Possibly to support a petition. Possibly to frighten you into signing something real. Let's not guess."
A soft knock interrupted him. His older sister, Ruth, stood outside with groceries and a look that told him she knew.
"You finally called me," she said.
"I should've called sooner."
She set the bags down. "You married a stranger while you were drowning. I tried to tell you."
"I didn't call you to be right."
"Good. I didn't come to win."
Ruth took Noah while Daniel called the security company and asked them to preserve footage and access records. Then she reached for the signed document.
"Where did Vanessa learn about the children's trust?"
Daniel frowned. Elise's grandmother had left a substantial fund for Noah, administered jointly by Daniel and Ruth. Vanessa knew the trust existed. Daniel had mentioned it over dinner.
"She knows about it. Why?"
May you like
Ruth pointed at a sentence in the authorization.
"Because this doesn't just ask to care for Noah," she said. "It asks to replace you as the person requesting money for his care."
