Chapter 5: The Man Who Recognized the Forgery
The man standing beside Richard was in his early fifties, with silver hair and a dark overcoat.
He introduced himself as Daniel Mercer.
"I believe we've spoken about me," he said.
I invited them inside.
Ethan immediately stepped away from the kitchen table.
"Why is he here?""
Richard removed his coat.
"Because I asked him to come.""
Ethan shook his head.
"This is a family matter.""
Daniel placed his briefcase on the table.
"It stopped being a family matter when your mother's identity was used to support a financial agreement.""
Ethan's face reddened.
"Nobody stole anything.""
Daniel looked at the document in front of me.
"Then perhaps you can explain why the signature on this agreement doesn't match the signature on the identification documents provided to the bank.""
I looked at him.
"You've seen my identification?""
"Yes. A copy was included in the preliminary financial package.""
My hands trembled.
"Who submitted it?""
Daniel glanced at Ethan.
"Your daughter-in-law.""
Ethan rubbed his forehead.
"Brooke was handling the paperwork.""
"Did you authorize her to use your mother's financial information?"" Daniel asked.
Ethan didn't answer.
Daniel opened his briefcase and removed a thick folder.
"I want to explain something before we go any further. I was considering investing four hundred thousand dollars in Ethan's company.""
I stared at him.
"Four hundred thousand?""
"Yes. The company had potential. Ethan presented an ambitious expansion plan, and I was interested.""
Richard sat beside me.
"Daniel discovered discrepancies in the financial statements.""
"What kind of discrepancies?""
"Unpaid vendor invoices, credit balances that didn't match the reported figures, and a personal guarantee that appeared to come from you.""
Daniel slid a paper across the table.
"This is the document Brooke provided to my office.""
I examined it.
My name appeared in several places.
My supposed contribution of fifteen thousand dollars.
My alleged savings balance.
A statement saying I owned my home free and clear and had agreed to use my personal assets as security if the business defaulted.
I felt dizzy.
"I never agreed to any of this.""
"I believe you," Daniel said.
Ethan suddenly interrupted.
"Look, the company was going through a difficult period. Brooke was trying to keep things together.""
Daniel closed the folder.
"By making false statements about your mother?""
"She didn't mean it that way.""
I turned toward my son.
"How could she mean it?""
He looked away.
Richard leaned forward.
"Ethan, I need you to tell us the truth. Did your mother ever authorize you to use her savings or property as collateral?""
"No.""
"Did she sign the document?""
"I don't know.""
Daniel's expression hardened.
"You don't know?""
"I wasn't there when Brooke prepared everything.""
"Then who was?""
Ethan looked toward the window.
I watched him struggle.
Finally, he whispered, "Brooke and her assistant.""
Richard closed his eyes.
"Her assistant?""
"Her name is Melissa. She handles the company's administrative paperwork.""
Daniel wrote something down.
"Was Melissa present when the document was supposedly signed?""
Ethan nodded.
I felt a cold wave move through me.
"So three people knew about this?""
Nobody spoke.
I stood up and walked to the kitchen counter.
For a moment, I needed something solid beneath my hands.
Then I remembered the Christmas party.
The humiliation.
The way Brooke had looked at my food.
The way she'd ordered me to take it away.
And something suddenly made sense.
She hadn't wanted me at that party as a mother.
She'd wanted me there as a financial asset.
My cooking was useful until the moment it threatened her carefully arranged image.
My name was valuable as long as she could use it.
My actual presence was inconvenient.
"Did Brooke know you were coming here?"" I asked Daniel.
"Not until Richard called me.""
I looked at Ethan.
"Does she know we're discussing the documents?""
He didn't answer.
His phone buzzed.
He glanced at the screen.
Then he turned it facedown.
Richard noticed.
"Is that Brooke?""
"No.""
"Ethan.""
He sighed.
"Yes.""
Daniel leaned back.
"I suggest you answer.""
Ethan picked up.
"Hello?""
Brooke's voice came through loudly.
"Where are you? Melissa just called. The bank wants the original guarantee by Monday.""
Ethan looked at Daniel.
"That's not happening.""
"What do you mean?""
"Mom says she never signed it.""
A sharp silence followed.
Then Brooke laughed.
"She's confused. You know how she gets about paperwork.""
My fingers curled around the edge of the counter.
I took one step toward Ethan.
"Tell her I'm perfectly capable of remembering what I sign.""
He switched on speaker.
Brooke's voice filled the kitchen.
"Margaret, nobody is accusing you of anything. We're just trying to get through a difficult situation.""
"Then why is my signature on a document I never signed?""
"Because you agreed to help us.""
"I did not.""
"You told Ethan you wanted to support his future.""
"I told him I'd think about helping him. I never agreed to guarantee a business loan.""
Brooke sighed dramatically.
"You're twisting everything.""
Daniel spoke.
"Mrs. Harrington, this is Daniel Mercer. I would like to discuss the financial representations made to my office.""
Her voice changed instantly.
"Daniel! Oh, thank goodness. Ethan is handling everything.""
"Then I'm sure you can explain the origin of Mrs. Collins's signature.""
Silence.
"That's an administrative matter," Brooke finally said.
"An administrative matter involving a potentially forged financial guarantee?""
Her voice became cold.
"I don't appreciate being threatened.""
"I'm not threatening you. I'm asking for an explanation.""
Brooke ended the call.
Ethan stared at his phone.
Richard stood up.
"Well, that was informative.""
Daniel gathered his papers.
"I'll have my legal team review everything before Monday.""
I looked at him.
"What should I do?""
"Don't sign anything. Don't transfer money. And don't let anyone take your original documents.""
He paused.
"Also, Mrs. Collins, I recommend checking whether any other accounts or assets have been connected to this agreement.""
After they left, Ethan remained seated.
He looked smaller somehow.
"Mom, I'm sorry.""
I sat opposite him.
"Are you sorry because she used my name, or because you got caught?""
He lowered his head.
I waited.
Finally, he said, "Both.""
It wasn't enough.
But it was the first honest thing he'd said all morning.
Then my phone rang.
It was an unfamiliar number.
I answered.
A woman's voice spoke quickly.
"Mrs. Collins? My name is Melissa Grant. I work for Ethan and Brooke.""
"Yes?""
"I need to tell you something before they find out I contacted you.""
My heart began pounding.
"What is it?""
"I was the person who prepared the guarantee.""
I looked at Ethan.
Melissa continued.
"And I have the original instructions Brooke sent me. But there's something else you need to know.""
"What?""
May you like
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"Your name wasn't the only one she used.""
