Chapter 4: The Witness at My Dinner Table
I read the witness's name three times.
Then I pushed the document across the table toward Vanessa.
"Who is Patricia?""
Vanessa stopped crying.
For a moment, she looked genuinely confused.
Then her eyes landed on the signature.
Her face changed.
"Michael, I can explain.""
"That's becoming your favorite sentence.""
Patricia was Vanessa's closest friend. They had known each other for nearly fifteen years, long before Vanessa and I married. She had attended our wedding, celebrated our anniversaries, and spent countless Sunday dinners in our home.
She had even helped me organize Laura's memorial service.
And now her name appeared on a document claiming she'd witnessed me sign away my house.
"Did Patricia watch me sign this?"" I asked.
Vanessa shook her head.
"Michael, please don't involve her.""
"Her name is already involved.""
"She was only helping.""
"Helping with what? Forging my signature?""
Vanessa sat down heavily.
"Daniel said everything was legal.""
I laughed bitterly.
"Daniel isn't a lawyer.""
"He knows people.""
"Apparently, he knows people who are willing to commit fraud.""
Vanessa covered her face.
Ethan stood near the staircase, listening.
I looked at him.
"Go upstairs, son. I need to make a call.""
He hesitated.
"Are you sure?""
"Yes. And lock your bedroom door if that makes you feel safer.""
He nodded and disappeared.
I immediately called Patricia.
She answered on the fourth ring.
"Michael! What a surprise.""
I kept my voice calm.
"Patricia, I have a document here with your name on it.""
There was a brief silence.
"What document?""
"A deed transfer involving my house. It says you witnessed my signature two days ago.""
Another silence.
Then she said, "Oh, that.""
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"That?""
"Vanessa told me you were handling some property arrangements.""
"Did you see me sign anything?""
"Michael, I was told everything had been approved.""
"That's not what I asked.""
She exhaled.
"I didn't actually see you sign it.""
I closed my eyes.
"Then why did you sign as a witness?""
"Daniel said it was just paperwork. He promised you knew.""
"Did he pay you?""
Patricia didn't answer immediately.
That was enough.
"How much?"" I asked.
"Michael, please don't make this worse.""
"How much?""
"Five thousand dollars.""
I stared at the wall.
Five thousand dollars.
That was apparently what my wife's best friend thought my home, my son's security, and my first wife's memory were worth.
"Did you receive the money?""
"Yes.""
"From whom?""
"Daniel.""
I ended the call.
Vanessa was watching me.
"Patricia told you, didn't she?""
"She admitted she never saw me sign.""
Vanessa began shaking her head.
"Daniel said she was just confirming the paperwork.""
"By lying?""
"I didn't know she would actually sign it!""
I leaned against the counter.
"Vanessa, did you understand that this document could transfer ownership of my home?""
She stared at the floor.
"I thought it was temporary.""
"There's no such thing as temporarily stealing someone's house.""
She flinched.
I took photographs of every document and sent them to my personal email.
Then I called a property attorney I'd used years earlier when Laura's estate was settled.
His name was Robert Hayes.
When he answered, I explained what had happened.
He became quiet as I described the forged signature, the supposed witness, and the loan application.
Finally, he said, "Michael, don't confront anyone else before we review these documents.""
"Why?""
"Because if someone has submitted fraudulent property paperwork, you need to protect the title immediately.""
"Can they take my house?""
"Don't panic. But we need to verify whether anything has been recorded and notify the appropriate institutions.""
I looked at Vanessa.
"How long?""
"Come to my office first thing tomorrow. Bring everything. And don't sign anything.""
After the call, Vanessa approached me.
"Michael, we can fix this without lawyers.""
I looked at her.
"You had eight months to fix this.""
"I was trying to help Madison.""
"And who was helping Ethan?""
She had no answer.
I picked up the bank statement.
"Where is the money he paid you?""
She looked away.
"Some of it is gone.""
"How much?""
"Most of it.""
"Where?""
She whispered something I couldn't hear.
"What?""
"Madison's debts.""
I looked toward the stairs.
"Then we're going to find out exactly how much.""
My phone vibrated.
An unfamiliar number had sent me a message.
Michael, this is Patricia. There's something you need to know about Daniel. He didn't just arrange the paperwork. He has another copy of Laura's original property documents.
I stared at the message.
Then another arrived.
And he told Vanessa that Ethan's mother had left something behind that could destroy the entire plan.
I slowly turned toward Vanessa.
"What did Laura leave behind?""
For the first time since I'd known her, my wife looked genuinely terrified.
May you like
And she whispered four words.
"Daniel found the trust.""
