Chapter 3: The Signature That Shouldn't Exist
I drove to Reed Meridian's headquarters with one thought repeating in my head.
Someone had used my identity to move $2.6 million.
And somehow, my ex-wife and younger brother were connected to the account that received it.
The building stood forty-two stories above downtown Atlanta, its glass exterior reflecting the morning sun.
My father had once told me that a man's name was worth more than anything he could build.
I hadn't understood him then.
Now I was beginning to.
When I entered the lobby, Emily was waiting beside the elevators with a leather folder pressed against her chest.
"Good morning, Mr. Reed.""
"Tell me everything.""
She followed me into the elevator.
"The transfer was initiated from the Atlanta development account thirty-one days ago. It was divided into four transactions.""
"Who approved them?""
"Your digital credentials were used.""
"Did I approve them?""
"No, sir.""
"Are you certain?""
Emily opened the folder.
"We checked the access logs. Your credentials were used from a device registered to the executive finance department.""
I looked at her.
"Whose device?""
"Daniel Whitmore's office computer.""
The elevator doors opened.
We walked toward my office.
Emily continued.
"But there's something else. The money didn't remain in Vanessa Reed's account.""
I stopped.
"Where did it go?""
"Three separate transfers. One went to a private investment company. Another went to an offshore holding account. The final payment went to an account associated with Jonathan Reed.""
I stared at her.
"My brother?""
"Yes, sir.""
I entered my office and placed the folder on the desk.
"How much?""
"Six hundred thousand dollars.""
I sat down slowly.
Jonathan had received six hundred thousand dollars.
My brother.
The same brother who'd refused to attend our company's tenth-anniversary celebration.
The same brother who'd accused me of abandoning our father during his final months, even though I'd spent every evening at the hospital.
I opened the folder.
There were transaction records, account statements, and authorization forms.
One document caught my attention.
It was a transfer approval bearing my name.
Marcus Reed.
My signature.
Almost perfect.
But something was wrong.
I leaned closer.
"Emily, enlarge this section.""
She moved the document onto the large monitor.
I studied the signature.
My father's old fountain pen had taught me to write my name with a distinctive upward stroke at the end of the letter R.
The signature on the document had that stroke.
But it was too smooth.
I signed thousands of documents every year.
My hand didn't move like that.
"Who prepared this?""
"The document was uploaded through Daniel's department.""
"Did he personally submit it?""
"We're checking.""
I leaned back.
"Bring him in.""
Emily hesitated.
"He's already here.""
"Good.""
A knock sounded at the door.
Daniel entered wearing a navy suit and carrying a thick black briefcase.
He looked at Emily.
Then at me.
"Good morning, Mr. Reed.""
"Sit down.""
He placed the briefcase on the table.
"Sir, I brought everything you requested.""
I pointed to the chair.
"Before we discuss the financial records, I have a question.""
Daniel swallowed.
"Of course.""
"Do you know Vanessa Reed's bank account?""
His eyes flickered toward the folder.
Only for a second.
But it was enough.
"Yes," he said.
I folded my hands.
"Why?""
"She mentioned it to me.""
"She mentioned opening an account?""
"Yes.""
"When?""
"About six weeks ago.""
"Did you know my company's money was transferred into it?""
Daniel shifted in his chair.
"No, sir.""
I turned the monitor toward him.
"Then explain this.""
He stared at the transaction records.
His face lost color.
"Mr. Reed, I can explain.""
"Please do.""
"Vanessa told me she was helping with a private investment. She said the money was coming from a family trust.""
"Which family trust?""
"I don't know.""
"You didn't think it was strange that your wife's account suddenly received millions of dollars?""
He rubbed his forehead.
"She told me Jonathan Reed was involved.""
My fingers tightened against the desk.
"What did she say about Jonathan?""
Daniel looked toward the closed office door.
"She said he had an arrangement with someone inside the company.""
"Who?""
"I don't know.""
"Daniel, you have five seconds to stop protecting someone.""
He lowered his voice.
"Your brother contacted me three months ago.""
I stared at him.
"What did he want?""
"He wanted access to the company's financial systems. He said he was working with you on a confidential acquisition.""
"Did I authorize that?""
"No.""
"Then why did you help him?""
Daniel's eyes dropped.
"Because he showed me documents with your signature.""
I slowly pushed the forged authorization across the table.
"Like this one?""
Daniel nodded.
"Yes, sir.""
I stood.
"Who gave him those documents?""
Daniel hesitated.
"I don't know.""
"You're lying.""
"I'm not, sir.""
I walked toward the window.
Below us, construction cranes moved above the Atlanta skyline.
I had built this company from a failing operation into an empire.
And someone had been using it as a personal bank account.
"Daniel," I said without turning around, "you've been my regional vice president for eight months. I trusted you with hundreds of employees, millions in contracts, and projects that will stand for generations.""
"I know, sir.""
"Then help me understand why you allowed someone to use my name to steal from my company.""
He opened his mouth.
But before he could answer, Emily rushed into the office.
"Mr. Reed.""
I turned.
She held up her phone.
"We just received a message from the bank.""
"What is it?""
"They've frozen the remaining accounts connected to the transfer.""
"Good.""
Emily swallowed.
"There's a problem.""
"What problem?""
She placed her phone on my desk.
A photograph filled the screen.
It showed Jonathan standing outside a private airport terminal beside a black SUV.
The timestamp was from that morning.
Beneath the photograph was a message from an unknown number.
*STOP INVESTIGATING THE MONEY. YOUR BROTHER ISN'T THE PERSON YOU SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT.*
I read it twice.
Then another message appeared.
*ASK YOUR MOTHER WHAT YOUR FATHER REALLY LEFT BEHIND.*
My blood ran cold.
My mother had been dead for six years.
And the last person who'd ever mentioned my father's hidden estate was Jonathan.
I looked at Daniel.
"Who sent this?""
He stared at the screen.
May you like
Then he whispered something that made Emily step backward.
"Mr. Reed... I think your father knew this was going to happen.""
