Chapter 15 - THE OTHER SIGNATURE
The notary, Denise Harper, came to the station with a lawyer.
She lasted forty-three minutes.
Then she admitted Carol had asked her to notarize a signature she had not witnessed.
“Carol said Erin had already signed it.”
“Did you know the money belonged to children?” Dana asked.
Denise looked at the table.
“Yes.”
“Did you know Travis would control the account?”
Silence.
That was answer enough.
The transfer had never been completed because the bank flagged the request for review.
Travis had needed Erin’s fresh signature to try again.
That was why the brown folder mattered.
Why he followed her to the pharmacy.
Why he locked her in the old garage.
And why he went to the hospital after she refused.
The financial motive was ugly.
The emotional one was worse.
Travis believed the children’s money was compensation for how unfair his own life had been.
He never saw Mia and Caleb as people.
Only access points.
Erin listened to the explanation from her hospital room.
Mia was awake beside her, drawing circles on a paper plate.
“Is Uncle Travis going to jail?” she asked.
Erin glanced at Leah.
“He may,” Erin said. “A judge will decide what happens.”
Mia nodded slowly.
“Will Grandma?”
Erin’s eyes filled.
“She may have consequences too.”
Mia thought about that.
“Because she didn’t stop him?”
“Because sometimes not stopping something when you can is a choice.”
Mia put down the crayon.
“Did I stop him?”
Erin pulled her close.
“You got Caleb help. But none of this was supposed to be yours to stop.”
Mia looked confused.
Then Julia entered with the two quarters in a tiny plastic bag.
“These belong to you.”
Mia stared at them.
“I thought you used them.”
Julia smiled sadly.
“No, honey.”
May you like
Mia’s lip trembled.
“Then why did you help us?”
