Chapter 6: The Signature From Beyond the Grave
I stared at the screen.
My father's signature was unmistakable.
The same elegant handwriting he'd used on birthday cards, Christmas checks, and the documents he signed at our family office.
But there was something impossible about the date.
Three months after his funeral.
“That's not possible,” I whispered.
Ellis closed the laptop.
“The document appears to have been submitted electronically.””
“Who submitted it?””
“We're tracing the authorization credentials.””
Trevor suddenly laughed.
It was a nervous, unpleasant sound.
“This is ridiculous. My father-in-law signed plenty of documents before he died. Maybe the date was entered incorrectly.””
Vanessa turned toward him.
“Then explain why the authorization was generated from a computer registered to your company.””
Trevor's smile disappeared.
Darlene grabbed her handbag.
“We're done here.””
Ellis stood in front of the door.
“Mrs. Bascombe, I need you to remain available for questioning.””
“Questioning?”” she snapped.
“Are you accusing me of something?””
“I'm asking you to cooperate with a financial investigation.””
Trevor pointed at me.
“This is your fault, Corinne. You activated that trust without understanding what it would do.””
I slowly stood.
“You froze my cards because I bought diapers.””
“Don't bring that up again.””
“You left your daughter without formula.””
“I said stop!””
His voice echoed across the room.
Vanessa leaned forward.
“Careful, Trevor. There are people in this building who don't work for you.””
He looked at her with open hatred.
“You should have stayed dead.””
The room went silent.
I turned toward him.
“What did you just say?””
Trevor's expression shifted.
“I didn't mean—”
“You knew she was alive?””
He rubbed his forehead.
“This is getting out of control.””
Vanessa stood.
“Tell her, Trevor.””
He said nothing.
“Tell her who arranged my disappearance.””
Darlene suddenly began crying.
“Please. Not here.””
Vanessa looked at her.
“You've had four years to explain yourself.””
I felt as if the floor were moving beneath me.
“What is she talking about?””
Vanessa took a small USB drive from her handbag.
“Everything is on here. The original accounting records, the payments, and the messages between Trevor and Darlene.””
Trevor lunged toward the table.
Ellis immediately stepped between them.
“Do not touch those documents.””
Trevor stopped.
His face had turned red.
“You have no idea what you're doing, Corinne. If those files become public, hundreds of employees will lose their jobs.””
I looked at him.
“Then you should have thought about them before stealing millions.””
He lowered his voice.
“You're going to regret this.””
For the first time, I wasn't afraid of his threats.
“I'm already regretting six years of trusting you.””
I picked up my handbag and walked out with Vanessa.
In the elevator, neither of us spoke.
When the doors opened, she touched my arm.
“Corinne, I know you hate me right now.””
I turned toward her.
“I don't hate you.””
Her eyes filled.
“I should have come back.””
“Yes,” I whispered.
“You should have.””
She nodded.
“I was scared.””
“Of Trevor?””
“Of what Dad had discovered.””
We walked into the parking garage.
Vanessa stopped beside my car.
“There's something I haven't told you.””
I looked at her.
“What?””
“Dad didn't leave the entire inheritance to you.””
I frowned.
“Ellis said I controlled the trust.””
“You control the trust's investments. But there's another beneficiary.””
“Who?””
Vanessa looked away.
“Me.””
I stared at her.
“Why would Dad divide it between us?””
“He didn't. He changed the arrangement shortly before he died.””
My mind raced.
“Why?””
“Because he discovered that someone had been trying to transfer ownership of the family properties.””
I opened my mouth, but she raised a hand.
“Corinne, listen to me. The person behind the transfers isn't just stealing money. They're trying to gain control of everything Dad built.””
“Who?””
Vanessa reached into her coat and pulled out a folded photograph.
It showed my father standing outside his office with three people.
Trevor.
Darlene.
And a third person.
I recognized him immediately.
Dr. Samuel Reed.
My father's longtime attorney.
The man who had handled his will.
The man who had stood beside me at the funeral and promised to protect our family.
I looked at Vanessa.
“Why is Samuel in this photograph?””
She swallowed.
“Because he was the one who certified Dad's death.””
I felt my stomach drop.
“He was there?””
Vanessa nodded.
“And he was also the person who helped me disappear.””
I stared at the photograph.
“Why would Dad's own attorney help fake your death?””
Vanessa's phone rang.
She checked the screen.
Her expression changed instantly.
“Don't answer that,” she whispered.
“Who is it?””
She turned the screen toward me.
*SAMUEL REED.*
The call stopped.
A second later, a message appeared.
*Vanessa, I know you're back in Charlotte. We need to talk before Corinne sees the original will.*
I looked at my sister.
“What original will?””
Vanessa's face had gone pale.
Then another message arrived.
*Because if she sees what your father signed three days before he died, she'll discover who actually owns Bascombe Commercial Builders.*
I felt the blood drain from my face.
Before I could ask another question, a black SUV pulled into the parking space directly behind us.
The passenger window lowered.
A man wearing dark glasses leaned toward the open window.
“Mrs. Bascombe?””
I instinctively stepped in front of Vanessa.
“Yes?””
He held up a photograph.
It was a picture of June.
Taken that morning outside my house.
May you like
Then he said five words that made my knees nearly give way.
“Your daughter isn't safe at home.””
