Chapter 10: The Deed Signed in My Name
By the time Dad and I returned home from graduation, two police officers were standing in our driveway.
Rebecca's silver SUV was gone.
So was Madison.
Dad parked behind the officers' cruiser and stepped out, holding his phone in one hand and my diploma in the other.
“Can I help you?”” he asked.
One officer approached.
“Mr. Carter? I'm Officer Lewis.
We received a report concerning suspected financial fraud and potentially falsified property documents. We need to ask you a few questions.””
Dad glanced at me.
“Is my wife involved?””
“We're gathering information. We understand she may have left the residence.””
My stomach tightened.
“Where's Madison?”” I asked.
Neither officer knew.
Dad led them into the house. Robert Hayes joined us by speakerphone, explaining that he had preserved the original trust documents and submitted copies of the questionable deed application to the appropriate authorities.
The officers photographed the paperwork and took statements.
When Officer Lewis asked whether Rebecca had access to my personal documents, Dad nodded.
“She had access to the home, but Emily never authorized her to sign anything on her behalf.””
“Did your daughter sign the deed application?””
“No,” I answered.
“I've never even seen it.””
The officer made a note.
“Do you recognize the witness listed here?””
He showed me a copy.
The signature belonged to Rebecca.
Beneath it was the name of a notary public and an address in Marietta.
I recognized the address immediately.
It was the house Rebecca had intended to purchase for Madison.
“That's where they planned to move,” I said.
Dad leaned over my shoulder.
The officer studied the document.
“Mr. Carter, we'll need to verify the notarial record. For now, don't contact your wife about the investigation. If she reaches out, preserve the messages.””
After the officers left, Dad called Madison repeatedly.
Every call went to voicemail.
Finally, at six thirty, she answered.
“Madison, where are you?”” Dad demanded.
There was traffic noise in the background.
“I'm with Mom.””
“Where?””
She hesitated.
“At a hotel.””
“Which hotel?””
“Dad, she's upset. She says you're trying to have her arrested.””
Dad closed his eyes.
“I'm trying to find out why she used Emily's name on legal documents.””
“She says she was protecting us.””
“Protecting you from what?””
Madison didn't answer.
“Madison, listen carefully. Did your mother ask you to sign anything?””
“No.””
“Did she ask you to witness any documents?””
“No.””
“Then stay away from anything she asks you to sign. Do you understand?””
Her voice trembled.
“Yes.””
“Tell me where you are.””
She gave him the name of a hotel near Marietta.
Dad wrote it down.
Before ending the call, Madison spoke again.
“Dad?””
“Yes?””
“Mom said Uncle Michael was coming tonight.””
Dad went completely still.
“Did she say why?””
“She said they were going to fix everything before you could ruin it.””
The call disconnected.
Dad immediately contacted Robert and the police officer handling the case.
Then he turned to me.
“Emily, I need you to stay here with a neighbor while I meet Robert.””
“I'm coming with you.””
“No.””
“Dad, that house is mine. That money is mine. They're using my name to do things I never agreed to. I can't just sit here.””
He looked at me for a long moment.
Finally, he nodded.
“You stay with me. You do exactly what the officers tell you, and you don't confront anyone alone.””
We drove to Robert's office.
He was waiting with a file open on his desk.
“The deed application is particularly concerning,” he explained.
“The signature appears to be an attempt to transfer the Savannah property into a trust controlled by a company associated with Michael.””
Dad sat down.
“So Michael planned to take the house.””
“Possibly. But the filing also contains a declaration stating that Emily voluntarily relinquished her beneficial interest.””
I felt sick.
“They made it look like I gave it away.””
“Yes,” Robert said.
“Which means we need to establish who prepared the document and how the notary was involved.””
He slid another page across the desk.
“This is the most troubling part.””
The document listed a witness to the signing.
Madison Carter.
I stared at her name.
“She told Dad she didn't sign anything.””
“Then we need to determine whether her signature was forged or whether she witnessed a different document.””
Dad stood.
“I'm calling her.””
Robert shook his head.
“Let the police handle the contact. We don't want anyone accused of interfering with a witness.””
Dad sat down again, visibly fighting the urge to act.
Then Robert's assistant knocked and entered with a sealed envelope.
“This was delivered by courier,” she said.
“The sender requested that it be given directly to Mr. Carter.””
Dad opened it.
Inside was a handwritten note and a flash drive.
The note contained only one sentence.
If you want to know what Rebecca and Michael really planned, watch the video before midnight.
Dad looked at Robert.
“Where did this come from?””
“The courier provided no additional information.””
Robert examined the envelope and advised Dad to let the police handle the evidence.
After the appropriate arrangements were made, we viewed a copy of the video in the presence of an investigator.
The footage showed Rebecca and Michael sitting at a table in a restaurant.
Michael placed several documents between them.
“Once the property is transferred,” he said, “the trust becomes much harder to challenge.””
Rebecca shook her head.
“And Daniel?””
“He'll never prove what happened to the original account.””
“What about Emily?””
Michael smiled.
“She'll be eighteen soon. By then, she'll be too busy trying to pay for college to fight over a house she doesn't even know exists.””
Rebecca looked uncomfortable.
“And the money we moved?””
“That's already handled.””
The video continued for another minute.
Then Michael leaned toward Rebecca and said something that made my father grip the edge of the desk.
“If Daniel discovers the original ledger, we're both finished.””
The footage ended.
Robert immediately contacted the investigator.
Dad stared at the blank screen.
“What original ledger?””
Nobody answered.
Then my phone buzzed.
A message from Madison appeared.
Emily, Mom has something of Grandma's. I found it in her suitcase. I think it's the reason she's so scared.
A photograph followed.
It showed an old black notebook with a gold clasp.
On its cover, written in faded ink, were two words.
May you like
*Estate Ledger.*
And beneath them was Grandma Helen's signature.
