Chapter 13: The Signature
“Jason?””
Nothing.
“Jason!””
The call was still connected, but all I could hear was movement.
A door creaked.
Then Frank’s voice came faintly through the phone.
“You should have stayed at the ranch.””
Jason answered, “What are you doing in my house?””
My blood went cold.
Detective Alvarez turned toward me.
“What’s happening?””
“Frank is there.””
Alvarez immediately signaled to two officers.
“Address?””
I gave it to him.
He spoke into his radio.
I pressed the phone against my ear.
“Jason, get out!””
Frank must have heard me.
“Sarah?””
His voice came closer.
Then the call ended.
I stared at the screen.
“Call him back,” Ethan said.
I did.
Straight to voicemail.
Again.
Voicemail.
Alvarez took my arm.
“Stay here.””
“No.””
“We have units going to your house.””
“My husband is there.””
“And rushing into an armed situation could make it worse.””
I looked at the ledger still clutched in my hands.
Jason’s signature.
$250,000.
COLE MATTER — FINAL RESOLUTION.
“Was Jason involved?””
Ethan looked at the page.
“I don't know.””
“His signature is right there.””
“Signatures can be forged.””
“That's what everyone keeps saying.””
Melissa was finally free from the chair. An officer wrapped a blanket around her shoulders.
She looked at the ledger.
Then at me.
“Sarah.””
“What?””
“That isn't Jason’s signature.””
I stared at her.
“What are you talking about?””
She stepped closer.
“Jason signs his name differently.””
My heart hammered.
“How would you know?””
“He signs birthday cards. Checks. Business papers.””
She pointed at the J.
“My brother loops the bottom.””
The signature in the ledger didn't.
Ethan leaned closer.
“She’s right.””
Hope rose inside me.
I hated how desperately I wanted it.
Then Melissa said, “But I know who signs Jason’s name like that.””
“Who?””
Her face hardened.
“Dad.””
Frank.
Alvarez looked at the ledger.
“You’re saying Frank forged his son’s signature?””
“Not just once.””
Melissa wiped blood from her mouth.
“When I was sixteen, Dad opened a credit card under Jason’s name. Mom found out and made him close it.””
“Why didn't Jason know?””
“He was in college.””
My phone buzzed.
A text from Jason.
COME HOME ALONE OR DAD SAYS HE’LL BURN EVERYTHING.
Then another.
DON'T TRUST THE POLICE.
Alvarez read it.
“He didn't write that voluntarily.””
“I know.””
Another message appeared.
A photograph.
Jason sat on our kitchen floor.
Blood ran from his forehead.
Frank stood behind him holding a gasoline can.
I stopped breathing.
“That's my house.””
Alvarez spoke into his radio again.
I grabbed his arm.
“My daughter’s things are there.””
He looked at me.
“Things can be replaced.””
I knew he was right.
But Frank wasn't threatening furniture.
He was threatening evidence.
Memories.
Maybe something else.
Ethan suddenly took the ledger.
He flipped through pages.
“What are you looking for?”” I asked.
“The reason Frank went there.””
He stopped.
One entry had our address beside it.
PROPERTY TRANSFER — BENNETT/COLE BENEFICIARY.
“What does that mean?””
Ethan looked at me.
“Your house isn't Jason’s.””
“What?””
“The down payment.””
He pointed to the ledger.
“It came from the restitution trust.””
My stomach twisted.
“I thought Jason’s parents gave us that money.””
“So did he.””
Melissa whispered, “Dad handled the transfer.””
I understood.
Frank had been moving money through Jason’s name for years.
Our marriage.
Our mortgage.
Even the roof over Lily’s head had been tied to this secret.
“Why?””
Ethan turned another page.
“Because Frank needed Jason financially connected to the trust.””
“To frame him?””
“Yes.””
Sirens screamed outside.
Alvarez looked at me.
“We’re going.””
The drive felt endless.
When we reached my street, police had blocked both ends.
Smoke curled from an upstairs window.
“No.””
I jumped from the vehicle.
“Sarah!””
Alvarez grabbed me before I reached the driveway.
The front door opened.
Frank appeared.
He had one arm around Jason’s neck.
In his other hand was a lighter.
Jason’s shirt was soaked.
Gasoline.
“Stay back!”” Frank shouted.
Officers raised their weapons.
Jason coughed.
“Sarah, don't come closer.””
Frank dragged him onto the porch.
For the first time, the quiet man from the barbecue was gone.
His face was twisted with rage.
“You ruined everything.””
I stared at him.
“You kidnapped Lily.””
“I moved her somewhere safe.””
“You terrified her.””
“I was trying to find Ethan’s key.””
“You forged Jason’s signature.””
His expression flickered.
Jason looked at me.
“What?””
Frank tightened his grip.
“Shut up.””
I held up the ledger.
“We found everything.””
Frank’s eyes locked onto it.
“There it is.””
“That’s why you're here?””
“No.””
He smiled.
“I came for what Ethan hid in your house.””
Ethan stepped from behind the police vehicle.
Frank froze.
“You.””
Ethan stared at him.
“What did you do with my evidence?””
Frank laughed.
“You still don't know?””
“Know what?””
Frank looked at me.
“Ask your mother what she buried under Sarah’s nursery.””
My heart stopped.
“My nursery?””
“Not Lily’s.””
His smile widened.
“Yours.””
May you like
Then Frank flicked the lighter.
And dropped it.
