Chapter 11: Dad's Signature
My father looked as though the floor had disappeared beneath him.
"That's impossible," Michael said.
David remained beside the front door, holding his phone.
"The bank has confirmed that someone submitted a withdrawal request against the account this morning. The transaction hasn't been completed, but the request carries your name and signature.""
"I didn't authorize anything.""
"I believe you. But we need to establish how someone obtained your information.""
I stared at the paperwork on the table.
"Someone is trying to take my money?""
David nodded.
"That's what it appears to be.""
My father dragged a hand through his hair.
"Who knew about the account?""
"Your mother, possibly Vanessa, and anyone who had access to the original banking documents," David replied.
"We need to find out whether the signature is forged and who submitted the request.""
Vanessa stood abruptly.
"Why are you all looking at me?""
My father turned toward her.
"Because you've admitted you helped Robert move money from my company, and you've been hiding documents related to Claire's death.""
"I didn't submit that request!""
"Then you should welcome an investigation.""
She looked at Madison.
"Tell them I was with you this morning.""
Madison frowned.
"You were asleep when I left for school.""
Vanessa's expression collapsed.
My father took out his phone and called the bank's fraud department using the number David had provided.
He asked them to freeze the account pending verification and preserve every record associated with the attempted withdrawal.
After several minutes, he ended the call.
"They've placed a temporary hold on the transaction," he said.
"They'll send the records to David once the necessary legal requests are completed.""
I felt sick.
My mother had apparently spent years trying to protect money for me, and someone was still trying to take it seventeen years later.
"Why would anyone want my money?"" I asked.
Daniel looked at the notebook.
"Because that account may contain more than money.""
Everyone turned toward him.
"What does that mean?"" my father asked.
Daniel pointed to the final page.
"Claire wrote that the account was connected to her investigation. What if she deposited more than savings? What if the account also contained evidence?""
David considered this.
"That's possible, but we shouldn't speculate. The bank records will tell us what was deposited and withdrawn. Any linked documents or safe-deposit arrangements would need to be verified separately.""
My father nodded.
"We'll do whatever it takes.""
Then he looked at Vanessa.
"Start talking.""
She folded her arms tightly.
"I've told you what I know.""
"No. You've told us what you think you can admit without destroying your life.""
Her eyes flashed.
"You think I'm the villain in every story.""
"I think you destroyed my daughter's prom dress, concealed evidence about my first wife's death, and admitted helping a man steal from my company.""
Vanessa's mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
My father continued.
"I'm not asking you to protect yourself anymore. I'm asking you to tell the truth.""
For a long moment, she stared at the carpet.
Then she whispered, "Robert didn't disappear after Claire died.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"What?""
"He contacted me six months later.""
My father went completely still.
"You told me he was dead.""
"I know.""
"Where did you meet him?""
Vanessa looked at the front window.
"At a hotel outside Savannah. He said he needed money to leave the country.""
"Did you give it to him?""
She nodded.
"How much?""
"Fifty thousand dollars.""
My father closed his eyes.
"From where?""
Vanessa began crying.
"From the account.""
I stared at her.
"Which account?""
She looked at me.
"Yours.""
For a second, I couldn't hear anything.
"You stole from me?""
"I didn't know it was your money at the time!""
"But you knew afterward!""
She covered her face.
"I thought I was helping Robert protect himself. He told me Claire had been planning to expose him, and he said everything would be settled once he left.""
My father stepped away from her.
"Did you know Claire was dead when you gave him the money?""
"Yes.""
"And you never told me he was alive?""
Vanessa shook her head.
"I was afraid.""
"Of Robert?""
"Of everyone.""
David interrupted.
"Vanessa, did you receive any documents from Robert during that meeting?""
She hesitated.
Then she nodded.
"He gave me a small envelope. He said it contained proof that Claire had been working with someone inside Michael's company.""
"Where is it?""
"I kept it.""
My father stared at her.
"Where?""
"In a storage unit.""
"Which one?""
Vanessa gave David the address.
He wrote it down and immediately called the authorities to explain that potentially relevant evidence might be stored there. David made it clear that any search or recovery would need to follow the proper legal process.
When he finished, he turned back to us.
"We'll coordinate with the investigators. Nobody should go to that unit alone or remove anything.""
My father nodded.
Then Madison spoke from the couch.
"Mom, why didn't you tell Dad about Robert?""
Vanessa looked at her daughter.
"Because Robert threatened to expose something about me.""
"What?""
Vanessa shook her head.
"Something that happened before I married Michael.""
My father stared at her.
"What could you possibly have done before we met that connects you to Claire's death?""
Vanessa began trembling.
Then she looked directly at me.
"Before I married your father, I worked for a private investigator. Robert hired me to follow Claire.""
Daniel went pale.
"Why?""
Vanessa's voice broke.
"Because he believed Claire was hiding a child from him.""
My father looked at me.
I could barely breathe.
Vanessa continued.
"Robert thought Emily might be his daughter. He hired me to find out whether Claire had given birth to his child.""
"But I was born before Mom married Dad," I whispered.
"Yes.""
"Then what did you discover?""
Vanessa looked at Daniel.
"I discovered that Claire had lied about the date she and Michael first met.""
My father stared at her in disbelief.
"That's ridiculous. I met Claire in March. Emily was born the following December.""
Vanessa nodded slowly.
"That's what she told you.""
She reached into her handbag and pulled out a folded piece of paper.
It was a photocopy of a hospital record.
The date at the top was two years earlier than the one on my birth certificate.
My father took it with shaking hands.
"What's this?""
Vanessa whispered, "A record of a pregnancy Claire never told you about.""
I looked at the document.
Then I saw the name written in the margin.
*Daniel Brooks.*
Daniel stepped backward.
"No," he whispered.
"That isn't possible.""
But Vanessa wasn't looking at him anymore.
May you like
She was looking at me.
"Emily, there's something else you need to know about your birth.""
