Chapter 7: ## Chapter 7: The Secret My Father Left Behind
For several seconds,: The Secret My Father Left Behind
For several seconds, I stared at Jessica's message without moving.
*It's I stared at Jessica's message without moving.
It's about your father.
My father had been dead for four years about your father.*
My father had been dead for four years. He had never met Richard Hale, never invested in property developments, and never borrowed money from anyone as far. He had never met Richard Hale, never invested in property developments, and never borrowed money from anyone as far as I knew.
He had worked thirty-two years as an electrician, paid off the mortgage as I knew. He had worked thirty-two years as an electrician, paid off the mortgage on his house, and kept every important document in a metal filing cabinet in his study.
He on his house, and kept every important document in a metal filing cabinet in his study.
He was a careful man.
A private man.
And if Jessica had somehow dragged his name was a careful man.
A private man.
And if Jessica had somehow dragged his name into this mess, I needed to know why.
Michael Grant noticed my expression.
"What happened?""
I turned my phone toward him.
into this mess, I needed to know why.
Michael Grant noticed my expression.
"What happened?""
I turned my phone toward him.
He read the message, then looked at me.
"Don't respond yet.""
"She says she'sHe read the message, then looked at me.
"Don't respond yet.""
"She says she's found something in Richard's file.""
"Then we need to establish what it is and where it came from. We shouldn't found something in Richard's file.""
"Then we need to establish what it is and where it came from. We shouldn't let anyone's interpretation substitute for the actual documents.""
I nodded, though my mind was already racing.
Mom sat beside me, twisting her wedding ring let anyone's interpretation substitute for the actual documents.""
I nodded, though my mind was already racing.
Mom sat beside me, twisting her wedding ring around her finger. She had worn it every day since Dad died, and I'd never once seen her take it off.
"Daniel," she said quietly, "what around her finger. She had worn it every day since Dad died, and I'd never once seen her take it off.
"Daniel," she said quietly, "what could Jessica possibly know about your father?""
"I don't know, Mom.""
Her face tightened.
"Your father never had dealings with anyone named could Jessica possibly know about your father?""
"I don't know, Mom.""
Her face tightened.
"Your father never had dealings with anyone named Richard.""
"Are you certain?""
"Positive. If he'd known someone was trying Richard.""
"Are you certain?""
"Positive. If he'd known someone was trying to use our house for a financial arrangement, he would have told me.""
Michael to use our house for a financial arrangement, he would have told me.""
Michael closed the folder in front of him.
"Margaret, do you still have your late husband's old financial records?""
"Most of them. His study is still much as he left it.""
"Then preserve closed the folder in front of him.
"Margaret, do you still have your late husband's old financial records?""
"Most of them. His study is still much as he left it.""
"Then preserve everything exactly as it is. Don't discard anything, and don't sign any documents anyone brings you. If everything exactly as it is.
Don't discard anything, and don't sign any documents anyone brings you. If we need to review those records, we'll do so properly.""
I looked at the clock.
It was barely we need to review those records, we'll do so properly.""
I looked at the clock.
It was barely nine-thirty.
The morning had already stretched into something that felt like a week.
I called Jessica.
She answered nine-thirty.
The morning had already stretched into something that felt like a week.
I called Jessica.
She answered immediately.
"Daniel?""
"What did you find?""
A pause.
"I can't explain it over the phone.""
"Then send me immediately.
"Daniel?""
"What did you find?""
A pause.
"I can't explain it over the phone.""
"Then send me a photograph.""
"I don't want to send it. Richard might have access to my messages.""
I glanced at Michael, who a photograph.""
"I don't want to send it. Richard might have access to my messages.""
I glanced at Michael, who was listening carefully.
"Where are you?""
"At home.""
"Is Richard there?""
"No. He left a was listening carefully.
"Where are you?""
"At home.""
"Is Richard there?""
"No. He left a little while ago.""
"What did you find?""
She lowered her voice.
"It's a document with your father's name on it. There's little while ago.""
"What did you find?""
She lowered her voice.
"It's a document with your father's name on it. There's a signature, a date, and something about the house.""
My stomach tightened.
"Don't a signature, a date, and something about the house.""
My stomach tightened.
"Don't touch anything else. Photograph the document and leave the original where it is.""
"Daniel, please just come home.""
"I'm coming touch anything else. Photograph the document and leave the original where it is.""
"Daniel, please just come home.""
"I'm coming, but I'm not discussing anything until Michael has seen the document.""
"You're bringing the attorney?""
"Yes.""
, but I'm not discussing anything until Michael has seen the document.""
"You're bringing the attorney?""
"Yes.""
Her breathing became audible.
"Okay.""
I ended the call.
Michael gathered the copies of theHer breathing became audible.
"Okay.""
I ended the call.
Michael gathered the copies of the filings and placed them in a folder.
"We'll go together. If the document appears to show that your father's signature filings and placed them in a folder.
"We'll go together. If the document appears to show that your father's signature was used without authorization, we'll need to verify its origin before drawing conclusions.""
Mom stood.
was used without authorization, we'll need to verify its origin before drawing conclusions.""
Mom stood.
"I'm coming too.""
I turned toward her.
"You don't have to.""
"It's my house, Daniel. If this"I'm coming too.""
I turned toward her.
"You don't have to.""
"It's my house, Daniel. If this concerns your father and the property we shared, I want to know.""
There was a firmness in her voice concerns your father and the property we shared, I want to know.""
There was a firmness in her voice I hadn't heard since before the fall.
I offered her my arm.
"All right.""
For I hadn't heard since before the fall.
I offered her my arm.
"All right.""
For the first time in weeks, she didn't apologize for needing help.
the first time in weeks, she didn't apologize for needing help.
That alone felt like a small victory.
When we arrived home, Jessica was waiting in the kitchen.
A thick brown folder lay onThat alone felt like a small victory.
When we arrived home, Jessica was waiting in the kitchen.
A thick brown folder lay on the table. Beside it sat an old photograph of my parents on the porch of their house, taken the summer I the table. Beside it sat an old photograph of my parents on the porch of their house, taken the summer I graduated from college.
Jessica stood as we entered.
"Thank you for coming.""
Michael introduced graduated from college.
Jessica stood as we entered.
"Thank you for coming.""
Michael introduced himself, then asked her to explain exactly how she had obtained the document.
Jessica glanced himself, then asked her to explain exactly how she had obtained the document.
Jessica glanced at me.
"Richard gave me the folder last week. He said it contained background information about the property and the possible financing at me.
"Richard gave me the folder last week. He said it contained background information about the property and the possible financing arrangement.""
"You accepted a folder concerning Margaret's property from a financial adviser?"" Michael asked.
"Yes.""
"Did you review it at the time?""
"Not all of it arrangement.""
"You accepted a folder concerning Margaret's property from a financial adviser?"" Michael asked.
"Yes.""
"Did you review it at the time?""
"Not all of it.""
"Why not?""
"Because Richard said the documents were complicated and he'd explain them later.""
Michael looked.""
"Why not?""
"Because Richard said the documents were complicated and he'd explain them later.""
Michael looked at the folder.
"May I examine it?""
Jessica nodded.
He opened it carefully.
Inside were photocopies of property records, a at the folder.
"May I examine it?""
Jessica nodded.
He opened it carefully.
Inside were photocopies of property records, a preliminary financing proposal, several pages of financial calculations, and a faded document that appeared much preliminary financing proposal, several pages of financial calculations, and a faded document that appeared much older than the others.
Michael placed it on the table beneath the kitchen light.
I leaned forward.
At the top, the older than the others.
Michael placed it on the table beneath the kitchen light.
I leaned forward.
At the top, the document bore my father's full name.
Beneath it was the address of the house where Mom document bore my father's full name.
Beneath it was the address of the house where Mom still lived.
And near the bottom was a signature that looked remarkably like Dad's.
I felt my pulse quicken.
"What is that still lived.
And near the bottom was a signature that looked remarkably like Dad's.
I felt my pulse quicken.
"What is that?""
Michael adjusted his glasses.
"It appears to be a copy of an agreement relating to the property. I can't determine its legal effect?""
Michael adjusted his glasses.
"It appears to be a copy of an agreement relating to the property. I can't determine its legal effect from this page alone.""
Mom moved closer.
"Let me see.""
Michael turned the document toward her from this page alone.""
Mom moved closer.
"Let me see.""
Michael turned the document toward her.
She stared at it.
Then she shook her head.
"That's not right.""
I looked at her.
"What do you mean?""
She.
She stared at it.
Then she shook her head.
"That's not right.""
I looked at her.
"What do you mean?""
She pointed to the signature.
"That's supposed to be your father's signature, but the date is wrong.""
pointed to the signature.
"That's supposed to be your father's signature, but the date is wrong.""
Michael studied the page.
"Can you explain?""
Mom pressed her fingers to her lips.
"Your father was in theMichael studied the page.
"Can you explain?""
Mom pressed her fingers to her lips.
"Your father was in the hospital that week. He had surgery on his heart. He couldn't have been sitting in an hospital that week.
He had surgery on his heart. He couldn't have been sitting in an office signing property documents.""
I looked at the date.
Four years earlier.
Three days before Dad's surgery.
"Are you certain?"" office signing property documents.""
I looked at the date.
Four years earlier.
Three days before Dad's surgery.
"Are you certain?"" Michael asked.
"I drove him to the hospital myself. He was admitted two days Michael asked.
"I drove him to the hospital myself. He was admitted two days before the surgery. I stayed with him every day.""
She leaned closer to the document.
"And before the surgery. I stayed with him every day.""
She leaned closer to the document.
"And this isn't how he signed his name on legal papers. He always wrote his middle initial.""
this isn't how he signed his name on legal papers. He always wrote his middle initial.""
I examined the signature.
She was right. Dad had signed nearly everything with his middle initial, Robert, reduced to a distinct littleI examined the signature.
She was right. Dad had signed nearly everything with his middle initial, Robert, reduced to a distinct little R between his first and last names.
This signature had no middle initial.
But it was close enough to fool someone who hadn't known him.
I looked at Jessica.
"Did Richard tell you what this document meant?""
She shook her head.
"He said it was an R between his first and last names.
This signature had no middle initial.
But it was close enough to fool someone who hadn't known him.
I looked at Jessica.
"Did Richard tell you what this document meant?""
She shook her head.
"He said it was an old agreement that might affect the transfer.""
"What agreement?""
"I don't know.""
"You've had this folder for a week, and you old agreement that might affect the transfer.""
"What agreement?""
"I don't know.""
"You've had this folder for a week, and you never asked?""
"I was trying to get everything sorted out before telling you.""
I stared at her.
"Why would a never asked?""
"I was trying to get everything sorted out before telling you.""
I stared at her.
"Why would a document involving my dead father's signature help you get my mother's house transferred?""
She began to cry.
"I don't know, document involving my dead father's signature help you get my mother's house transferred?""
She began to cry.
"I don't know, Daniel. I swear I don't.""
Michael raised a hand.
"Let's stay with what we can Daniel. I swear I don't.""
Michael raised a hand.
"Let's stay with what we can establish. This document appears to require further investigation. We need the complete record, not just a photocopy. We also establish.
This document appears to require further investigation. We need the complete record, not just a photocopy. We also need to know where it came from and whether it was ever filed or relied upon.""
He took photographs of need to know where it came from and whether it was ever filed or relied upon.""
He took photographs of each page and made a note of the folder's contents.
Then he turned to Jessica.
"Did Richard ask you each page and made a note of the folder's contents.
Then he turned to Jessica.
"Did Richard ask you to give him any original documents belonging to Margaret or her late husband?""
Jessica hesitated.
That to give him any original documents belonging to Margaret or her late husband?""
Jessica hesitated.
That hesitation changed the atmosphere in the kitchen.
"Jessica," I said, "answer him.""
She looked at Mom hesitation changed the atmosphere in the kitchen.
"Jessica," I said, "answer him.""
She looked at Mom.
"Not directly.""
"What does that mean?"" Michael asked.
"He asked whether Margaret still had the original deed and.
"Not directly.""
"What does that mean?"" Michael asked.
"He asked whether Margaret still had the original deed and her husband's old paperwork.""
Mom went pale.
"Why?""
Jessica shook her husband's old paperwork.""
Mom went pale.
"Why?""
Jessica shook her head.
"He said he needed to compare the ownership history.""
"Did you give him anything?"" I asked.
"No.""
"Did you go her head.
"He said he needed to compare the ownership history.""
"Did you give him anything?"" I asked.
"No.""
"Did you go to Mom's house?""
She looked down.
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Jessica.""
"Once to Mom's house?""
She looked down.
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Jessica.""
"Once.""
"When?""
"Last week.""
"Why?""
She began twisting her wedding ring.
"I wanted.""
"When?""
"Last week.""
"Why?""
She began twisting her wedding ring.
"I wanted to look for the original deed. I thought if I could get the property details to Richard, he could tell us to look for the original deed. I thought if I could get the property details to Richard, he could tell us what options were available.""
Mom took a step backward.
"You went into my house looking for my papers?""
"I didn't take what options were available.""
Mom took a step backward.
"You went into my house looking for my papers?""
"I didn't take anything!""
"That isn't what I asked you.""
Jessica's voice rose.
"I was trying to anything!""
"That isn't what I asked you.""
Jessica's voice rose.
"I was trying to solve a problem before it destroyed everything!""
Mom stared at her.
"You told me I was taking up solve a problem before it destroyed everything!""
Mom stared at her.
"You told me I was taking up too much space in your house. You made me feel so unwelcome that I packed a bag to leave my own son. And too much space in your house.
You made me feel so unwelcome that I packed a bag to leave my own son. And while I was doing your dishes, you were searching my home for documents?""
Jessica opened her while I was doing your dishes, you were searching my home for documents?""
Jessica opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Mom's hands began to shake, but this time she didn't look away.
"You let mouth.
Nothing came out.
Mom's hands began to shake, but this time she didn't look away.
"You let me believe I was a burden," she said.
"You let me believe I was ruining Daniel's marriage. All the while, you were asking for my house.""
Jessica started crying harder.
"Margaret me believe I was a burden," she said.
"You let me believe I was ruining Daniel's marriage. All the while, you were asking for my house.""
Jessica started crying harder.
"Margaret, I never wanted to hurt you.""
"But you did.""
The words were quiet.
They were also final, I never wanted to hurt you.""
"But you did.""
The words were quiet.
They were also final.
Michael closed the folder.
"We need to establish what happened to the original deed and whether any documents were removed or.
Michael closed the folder.
"We need to establish what happened to the original deed and whether any documents were removed or copied. Margaret, would you be comfortable checking the house with Daniel while we make arrangements to copied. Margaret, would you be comfortable checking the house with Daniel while we make arrangements to obtain the relevant property records?""
Mom nodded.
"Yes.""
I turned toward Jessica.
"You're going to tell us everything you remember obtain the relevant property records?""
Mom nodded.
"Yes.""
I turned toward Jessica.
"You're going to tell us everything you remember about Richard, the investment, and these documents. No more partial explanations.""
She wiped her cheeks.
"I will.""
" about Richard, the investment, and these documents. No more partial explanations.""
She wiped her cheeks.
"I will.""
"Today.""
She nodded again.
But before Michael could ask another question, my phone rang.
It was a number I didn't recognize.
I answered.
"Daniel CarterToday.""
She nodded again.
But before Michael could ask another question, my phone rang.
It was a number I didn't recognize.
I answered.
"Daniel Carter?""
"Yes.""
"My name is Elaine Porter. I work with the records office that handles property filings in?""
"Yes.""
"My name is Elaine Porter. I work with the records office that handles property filings in your mother's area. Mr.
Grant contacted us regarding a document connected to Margaret Carter's home your mother's area. Mr. Grant contacted us regarding a document connected to Margaret Carter's home.""
I glanced at Michael, who immediately motioned for me to put the call on speaker.
Elaine continued.
"We.""
I glanced at Michael, who immediately motioned for me to put the call on speaker.
Elaine continued.
"We located an application associated with a proposed property transaction. However, there is a discrepancy in the supporting documents.""
"What kind of discrepancy?""
located an application associated with a proposed property transaction. However, there is a discrepancy in the supporting documents.""
"What kind of discrepancy?""
"A document appears to bear the signature of your late father. We cannot confirm its authenticity, but the"A document appears to bear the signature of your late father. We cannot confirm its authenticity, but the date and supporting records raise questions.""
Mom gripped my arm.
Elaine paused.
"There is another issue date and supporting records raise questions.""
Mom gripped my arm.
Elaine paused.
"There is another issue. The application includes a reference to an older property agreement that may not have been part of the public record previously.""
Michael. The application includes a reference to an older property agreement that may not have been part of the public record previously.""
Michael leaned toward the phone.
"Can you tell us who submitted it?""
Elaine gave him the name of the company leaned toward the phone.
"Can you tell us who submitted it?""
Elaine gave him the name of the company.
Northbridge Capital.
The same lender Jessica had mentioned.
Michael asked several more questions, then arranged to.
Northbridge Capital.
The same lender Jessica had mentioned.
Michael asked several more questions, then arranged to follow up through the appropriate channels.
When the call ended, the kitchen fell silent.
I looked at the document on the table.
The false-looking signature.
The property filing.
The debt.
Richard's messages.
And Jessica's insistence that my mother's follow up through the appropriate channels.
When the call ended, the kitchen fell silent.
I looked at the document on the table.
The false-looking signature.
The property filing.
The debt.
Richard's messages.
And Jessica's insistence that my mother's house was the solution to a problem she had created.
I had thought I was uncovering a desperate attempt to obtain house was the solution to a problem she had created.
I had thought I was uncovering a desperate attempt to obtain money.
Now I wasn't sure whether the money had ever been the real objective.
Michael gathered money.
Now I wasn't sure whether the money had ever been the real objective.
Michael gathered his papers.
"We need to visit the property and inspect the original records. We should also request the complete file connected to the application. Until his papers.
"We need to visit the property and inspect the original records. We should also request the complete file connected to the application. Until we know what this agreement is, we can't safely assume the house is free of complications.""
Mom nodded, but her eyes remained fixed on the old photograph we know what this agreement is, we can't safely assume the house is free of complications.""
Mom nodded, but her eyes remained fixed on the old photograph of my parents.
She reached for it and held it against her chest.
"Your father would never of my parents.
She reached for it and held it against her chest.
"Your father would never have agreed to this," she whispered.
I put my arm around her.
"I know.""
But as I looked at the document bearing his name, I realized there was one question none of us had asked.
have agreed to this," she whispered.
I put my arm around her.
"I know.""
But as I looked at the document bearing his name, I realized there was one question none of us had asked.
If the signature wasn't genuine, who had created it?
And why had someone waitedIf the signature wasn't genuine, who had created it?
May you like
And why had someone waited until now to bring it into our lives?
until now to bring it into our lives?
