Chapter 7: The Signature That Could Destroy Me
I stared at the document in my hand, reading the signature again and again.
Daniel Bennett.
My name. My signature. My company.
And a transfer agreement that would have handed controlling ownership of Bennett Grand Hotels to a company called Northstar Hospitality Holdings.
"I never signed this," I said.
Emily gripped my arm.
"I know.""
"How did you get it?""
"Victor kept a copy in his office. I found the original in a locked filing cabinet at headquarters. When I confronted him, he told me I'd misunderstood the document.""
I looked at the witness line.
Martin Shaw.
My father's attorney had been dead for eleven months.
At least, that was what I had been told.
"Emily, Martin died last year.""
She shook her head.
"That's what Victor told everyone. But I saw him two months ago.""
The corridor suddenly felt too narrow.
"Where?""
"At headquarters. He came in through the private garage, wearing a baseball cap. I recognized his walk before I saw his face.""
Detective Brooks returned from room 2304, accompanied by an officer carrying a sealed evidence bag.
"We found a man inside," she said.
"He's alive, but he needs medical attention. Paramedics are on their way.""
"Who is he?"" I asked.
"He gave us a name, but we're verifying his identity. For now, he's cooperating.""
Emily swallowed.
"Was he hurt badly?""
"He's conscious. We're getting him help.""
Detective Brooks examined the transfer agreement without touching the paper directly.
"This could be significant, but we need to establish whether it's authentic, forged, or part of a larger fraud. Do you have any idea how someone might have obtained your signature?""
I thought about the hundreds of documents I signed every year. Board resolutions. Property acquisitions.
Employment contracts. Banking authorizations.
My signature existed in dozens of offices and countless digital systems.
"Victor has access to my executive files," I said.
"So does our legal department.""
"Who else?""
I hesitated.
"My executive assistant, Olivia Grant.""
Emily closed her eyes.
"Daniel, you need to be careful about Olivia.""
I turned toward her.
"Why?""
"She was the one who told me you were out of the country when I tried to see you at headquarters. She said you didn't want to speak to me.""
"I was in Atlanta that day.""
"I know. I found out afterward.""
A cold feeling settled in my stomach.
Olivia had worked beside me for seven years. She knew my schedule, my passwords' recovery procedures, my travel arrangements, and the names of every executive who had access to my office.
She had attended my father's funeral and held my hand when Emily disappeared.
If she had been involved, this wasn't merely a financial crime.
It was a betrayal that had been woven into my life.
Detective Brooks placed the agreement in a protective folder.
"We'll need to examine the document and obtain the relevant corporate records. In the meantime, I recommend that you don't contact anyone who may be connected to this.""
"I need to know whether my company is being stolen from me.""
"And you will. But we need evidence that can withstand scrutiny.""
An officer approached her.
"Detective, the man in room 2304 wants to speak with Mr. Bennett.""
She looked at me.
"Do you know him?""
"No.""
Emily tightened her grip on my arm.
"Daniel, please don't go alone.""
"I won't.""
We followed the officer into the adjoining room.
The man lay on a narrow bed, his face bruised, his shirt torn at the collar. A paramedic was checking his blood pressure while another prepared a stretcher.
When he saw me, he struggled to sit up.
"You're Daniel Bennett?""
"Yes.""
"My name is Peter Lawson. I used to work in your corporate accounting department.""
The name sounded familiar.
"You're the senior accountant who resigned last spring.""
Peter gave a bitter laugh that ended in a wince.
"I didn't resign. Victor told everyone I did.""
"What happened?""
"I found duplicate vendor payments. Millions of dollars going into companies that had no employees, no offices, and no legitimate business.""
"Northstar Hospitality Holdings?""
His eyes widened.
"You've seen the name?""
I held up the document.
Peter stared at it.
"That's the company.""
Detective Brooks stepped closer.
"Mr. Lawson, are you saying you have evidence connecting Northstar to the missing money?""
"I had evidence. Victor took my laptop and locked me in that room when I refused to sign a false audit statement.""
He looked directly at me.
"He told me that once the ownership transfer went through, nobody would be able to touch him.""
"Who owns Northstar?"" I asked.
Peter hesitated.
"That's the part I couldn't prove. The registered owner is a company incorporated overseas. But the payment instructions came from someone inside Bennett Grand Hotels.""
"Who?""
He closed his eyes.
"I saw the approval records. Three executives authorized the transfers.""
Detective Brooks leaned forward.
"Can you identify them?""
"Victor Hale. Olivia Grant.""
My heart sank.
Peter took a shallow breath.
"And the third name was Daniel Bennett.""
I shook my head.
"That's impossible.""
"I know. That's why I started investigating.""
He turned toward Detective Brooks.
"Someone used Mr. Bennett's credentials to authorize the payments. They were creating a paper trail that made it look like he approved everything.""
I thought about the transfer agreement again.
Someone had forged my signature, used my identity, and built a financial operation around the assumption that I would eventually take the blame.
"Why didn't you report this to the police?"" I asked.
Peter looked at me with exhausted eyes.
"I tried. The first time I called, someone contacted Victor less than an hour later. The second time, my apartment was broken into. The third time, I disappeared.""
Detective Brooks exchanged a look with the paramedic.
"Mr. Lawson, you're going to the hospital. We'll arrange for officers to protect you while we investigate.""
Peter caught my wrist.
"There's one more thing.""
"What?""
"The transfer hasn't happened yet. Victor needs one final authorization before the board meeting tomorrow morning.""
"Whose authorization?""
Peter's grip tightened.
"Yours.""
My phone vibrated.
A message appeared from Olivia.
Daniel, I heard there was an incident at the Atlanta hotel. Victor says you're making serious accusations. Please call me before you do anything you'll regret.
I read it twice.
Then another message arrived.
Your daughter is adorable, by the way. I hope she's feeling better.
My blood turned cold.
Olivia knew Sophie was with me.
She knew where I was.
And she had just sent me a message that could only mean one thing.
Someone was watching us.
I looked at Detective Brooks.
"We need to get my daughter out of this hotel.""
Before she could answer, the phone rang again.
This time, the caller ID displayed a number I hadn't seen in eighteen months.
Emily's old phone number.
May you like
And when I answered, a distorted voice whispered:
"Bring the original transfer agreement to headquarters tomorrow, or your daughter will be the next person who disappears.""
