Chapter 6: The Man Who Knew My Signature
I didn't sleep that night.
At 1:16 a.m., Vanessa sent me a photograph from the hotel lobby.
Daniel was standing beside Patricia.
A third man in a charcoal suit held a thick folder.
I enlarged the picture.
The man looked familiar, but I couldn't place him.
"Who is that?"" I asked Vanessa.
"I don't know. Daniel called him Mr. Carter.""
"Did you hear what they were saying?""
"Only pieces. Patricia said something about the house needing to be transferred before the end of the month.""
I stared at the photograph.
"Transferred to whom?""
"I couldn't hear.""
Then Vanessa sent another message.
"Sarah, I think they're planning to meet someone tomorrow morning.""
I called her.
"Can you tell whether they're still there?""
"Daniel just handed Patricia an envelope.""
"What was inside?""
"I couldn't see. But she looked very pleased.""
I pressed my fingers against my forehead.
"Vanessa, listen to me. Don't confront them. Don't tell them you've spoken to me.""
"I won't.""
"And please don't leave that hotel with Daniel.""
She was quiet for a moment.
"Sarah, I need you to understand something. I didn't know he was married. I believed him when he said you were dead.""
"I know.""
"I wouldn't have gotten involved if I'd known.""
I closed my eyes.
There were so many things I wanted to say.
But Vanessa was carrying a child, and Daniel had lied to both of us.
"Just stay somewhere safe," I told her.
The next morning, I went to a lawyer's office downtown.
Her name was Rebecca Collins.
A friend had recommended her years earlier when I'd needed help reviewing a property contract.
I placed the documents on her desk.
She read them without speaking.
Then she removed her glasses.
"Sarah, did you sign this power of attorney?""
"No.""
"Did you authorize the $185,000 loan?""
"No.""
"Did you give your husband permission to establish a company using your property as collateral?""
"Absolutely not.""
Rebecca studied the paperwork again.
"Then we need to act quickly. Don't confront him about the legal documents until we've secured copies and notified the relevant institutions.""
She picked up her phone.
"I also want you to obtain the original application records and request a formal investigation into the alleged signatures.""
I nodded.
Then I remembered something.
"There's a man named Mr. Carter. He was with my husband and mother-in-law last night.""
Rebecca looked up.
"Do you know his full name?""
"No.""
"Find out. He may be important.""
I was about to leave when my phone rang.
Daniel.
I stared at the screen.
Rebecca gestured for me to answer.
"Hello?""
"Where are you?""
His voice sounded unusually calm.
"Why?""
"Because we need to talk.""
"About what?""
"The house.""
I looked at Rebecca.
She shook her head slightly, signaling me not to reveal anything.
"What about it?""
"Mom and I found a way to solve our financial problems.""
I almost laughed.
"By selling my house?""
There was silence.
Then Daniel sighed.
"Sarah, don't be difficult.""
"Did you borrow $185,000 against the property?""
Another pause.
"Who told you that?""
"Is it true?""
"Listen. The money was supposed to help us.""
"Us?""
"Yes, us. Our future.""
I looked at the documents spread across Rebecca's desk.
"Then why did you transfer it into a company with your mother?""
"Because she understands business.""
"And Vanessa?""
He stopped speaking.
I continued.
"Did you use the money to buy her a house?""
"That's none of your business.""
I laughed.
"You're right. My money, my property, my identity, and my house apparently aren't my business.""
His voice became colder.
"Sarah, I am trying to protect you.""
"From what?""
"From making a decision you'll regret.""
I heard a door slam on his end.
Then Patricia's voice.
"Give me the phone.""
Daniel said something I couldn't understand.
A moment later, Patricia was speaking directly into my ear.
"Sarah, darling. We need to stop behaving like enemies.""
I almost dropped the phone.
She had never called me darling in six years.
"What do you want?""
"Your signature.""
I looked at Rebecca.
She immediately began writing something on a notepad.
"On what document?""
"A simple property transfer. Daniel has explained everything.""
"Then Daniel can explain it to my lawyer.""
Patricia's voice sharpened.
"Don't involve outsiders in family matters.""
"You're asking me to transfer my house.""
"You're married. The property belongs to the family.""
"Not if I paid for it myself.""
She gave a short, irritated laugh.
"You're being selfish. My son needs this money.""
"Why?""
"Because he has responsibilities.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"What responsibilities?""
Patricia hesitated.
Then she said, "The baby, Sarah. Don't pretend you don't know.""
I looked at Rebecca.
Patricia continued.
"Daniel needs a proper home for his child. Vanessa is expecting, and you should be mature enough to understand that your marriage is already over.""
I closed my eyes.
There it was.
The real reason.
They didn't just want my money.
They wanted my house to provide a future for Daniel's second family.
I spoke slowly.
"Then let Daniel buy Vanessa a house with his own money.""
Patricia's voice rose.
"He doesn't have that kind of money anymore!""
The sentence hung in the air.
I looked at the bank statements.
"What do you mean he doesn't have money?""
Patricia realized she'd said too much.
"That's not what I meant.""
"Where did the $240,000 from his business sale go?""
Silence.
Then Daniel snatched the phone.
"Who told you about that?""
I didn't answer.
His breathing became heavier.
"Sarah, listen to me. You have no idea what you've uncovered.""
"Then explain it.""
He lowered his voice.
"That money is gone.""
"Where?""
"Investments. Business expenses. Things didn't work out.""
"All of it?""
He didn't respond.
Then I heard Rebecca whisper, "Ask him about the foreclosure notice.""
My heart stopped.
I repeated the words.
"Daniel, what foreclosure notice?""
The silence on the other end lasted so long that I thought he'd hung up.
Finally, he spoke.
"There's something I haven't told you.""
"What?""
"Our house isn't just being used as collateral.""
He swallowed.
"It's already scheduled for auction.""
I gripped the phone.
"When?""
His answer came quietly.
"Friday morning.""
I looked at the calendar on Rebecca's desk.
It was Wednesday.
Rebecca immediately stood.
"Sarah, ask him who filed the auction request.""
I repeated the question.
Daniel didn't answer.
Then a notification appeared on my phone.
An email from an unfamiliar legal office.
*Subject: FINAL NOTICE — PROPERTY AUCTION CONFIRMATION.*
I opened it.
The first page contained our address.
The second contained the auction date.
But the third page contained something that made Rebecca take the phone from my hand.
A handwritten witness statement.
And beneath it was a signature I recognized immediately.
My father's.
May you like
My father had been dead for eleven years.
And somehow, someone had used his name to help sell my house.
