Chapter 9: The Signature
I took the form to the district office that afternoon.
Denise was waiting for me.
When she saw the document, she stopped mid-sentence.
“Where did you get that?””
“Sky found it.””
Denise picked it up carefully.
“This is a confidential student record.””
“It has my daughter's name on it.””
“Yes.””
“It has her signature.””
Denise looked at the signature.
Then at me.
“That isn't her signature.””
“I know.””
“You're sure?””
“I watched her learn to write her name.””
Denise turned the paper over.
There was a stamp on the back.
*RECEIVED — OCTOBER 14.*
“What happened on October 14?”” I asked.
She checked the database.
“Let me see.””
Her fingers moved across the keyboard.
Then she stopped.
“There was a meeting.””
“With whom?””
“Mrs. Carter and the principal.””
“About Nova?””
“Yes.””
“What does it say?””
Denise read the note.
“Parent unavailable. Student expressed willingness to transfer.””
I laughed once.
It wasn't funny.
“I was never unavailable.””
“I know.””
“I worked from home that day.””
Denise nodded.
“Then someone falsified the record.””
I leaned over the desk.
“Who?””
“I don't know yet.””
“Find out.””
She looked at me.
“We're going to.””
“Because if someone forged my daughter's signature, this isn't about a birthday party anymore.””
“No.””
“It isn't even about Mrs. Carter.””
Denise's face tightened.
“No.””
“It's about whoever wanted my daughter gone badly enough to fake legal paperwork.””
She nodded.
“Exactly.””
That evening, Mr. Bell called.
“I need to speak with you.””
“About Nova?””
“Yes.””
“Where?””
“The coffee shop across from the library.””
I almost refused.
Then I remembered Sky's video.
I went.
Mr. Bell was already there.
He looked exhausted.
“I should have told you months ago.””
“Why didn't you?””
“Because I was afraid of losing my job.””
I sat down.
“What happened on October 14?””
He looked around before answering.
“Mrs. Carter took Nova to the nurse's office.””
“I know.””
“She had the transfer form.””
“Why?””
“She wanted Nova to sign it.””
“She was nine.””
“I know.””
“And she wasn't allowed to sign a transfer agreement.””
“I know.””
“Then why did you let it happen?””
His face collapsed.
“I didn't.””
He leaned forward.
“I walked in when Mrs. Carter was trying to convince her.””
“What did you hear?””
“She told Nova that if she didn't sign, she'd have to leave anyway.””
My stomach turned.
“She threatened my daughter?””
“She called it an explanation.””
“What did Nova do?””
“She cried.””
I closed my eyes.
“What did you do?””
“I told Mrs. Carter to stop.””
“And?””
“She told me the principal had approved it.””
“Did he?””
“I don't know.””
“Did you see the form?””
“Yes.””
“Was it already signed?””
“No.””
Mr. Bell looked directly at me.
“That matters.””
“Why?””
“Because when I left the room, Nova hadn't signed anything.””
My heart pounded.
“Then how did the district receive a signed form?””
“I don't know.””
He reached into his bag.
“I took a picture.””
He placed his phone on the table.
The photograph showed the form from October.
Unsigned.
I stared at it.
“Why did you take this?””
“Because I knew something wasn't right.””
“Why keep it for a year?””
“I was scared.””
“Of what?””
He lowered his voice.
“Mrs. Carter wasn't the only person involved.””
I looked up.
“Who else?””
He didn't answer immediately.
Then he said,
“The principal.””
I already knew that.
“Who else?””
Mr. Bell looked toward the window.
“There was a district attorney at the meeting.””
I frowned.
“A district attorney?””
“No. Not the legal kind.””
He shook his head.
“A district administrator.””
“Who?””
“I never learned her name.””
“Then how do you know she was from the district?””
“She had a district badge.””
I thought of Sky's memory.
A man.
A district badge.
A transfer.
“What did she say?””
Mr. Bell's voice dropped.
“She told Mrs. Carter the school couldn't force you to agree.””
“Then why were they doing it?””
“Because they believed you would eventually give in.””
My hands curled into fists.
“Why?””
He looked at me.
“Because they had another complaint ready.””
“What complaint?””
He hesitated.
“An accusation that you were refusing to meet Nova's educational needs.””
My stomach dropped.
“They were going to blame me?””
“Yes.””
“For what?””
“For refusing a transfer.””
I stared at him.
Then my phone buzzed.
A message from Denise.
*We found the original October file.*
Another message arrived.
*Your signature is on it too.*
I felt the room tilt.
I called her immediately.
“What do you mean my signature?””
Denise answered on the first ring.
“We found a second document.””
“What document?””
“A consent form.””
“I never signed anything.””
“I know.””
“Then whose signature is it?””
She was silent.
“Denise?””
“We compared it to your signature on Nova's enrollment paperwork.””
“And?””
“It matches almost perfectly.””
My blood ran cold.
“Who has access to my old documents?””
Denise inhaled.
“That is exactly what we're trying to determine.””
Then she said something that made every hair on my arms rise.
May you like
“The person who forged your signature didn't just have access to your paperwork.””
“They had access to your home address.””
