Chapter 12 - My Dead Mother’s Signature
The document looked real.
That was the terrifying part.
Brier entered the emergency board meeting wearing navy blue and carrying herself like someone who knew every camera would be watching.
Her attorney placed the document in front of Graham.
It was supposedly signed by my mother two months before her death.
It stated that I was not to exercise controlling authority over any Hale interest combined with Whitmore assets.
Celeste sat across from me.
Charles sat beside her.
Declan sat alone.
He had refused his parents’ request to join their legal team.
That did not make him my ally.
It simply made him a man finally realizing the room had been arranged before he entered it.
Brier gave sworn testimony.
“Elizabeth was concerned Sarah was too young and emotionally impulsive.”
I stared at her.
Seven years ago I had met Brier once.
Or at least I thought I had.
Now she was describing private conversations with my mother.
“She asked me to safeguard the document.”
“Why you?” Graham asked.
Brier’s eyes flickered toward Celeste.
“Because she trusted me.”
I almost stood.
Elena touched my wrist.
Wait.
A handwriting expert hired by the board said the signature appeared consistent.
Celeste smiled faintly.
Then Elena rose.
“We would like to submit additional material.”
She placed my mother’s original letter beside the disputed document.
Then she placed twelve authenticated business letters written during the same month.
“Notice the signature.”
Graham studied them.
Elena continued.
“Elizabeth Hale always signed legal documents Elizabeth M. Hale.”
She pointed toward Brier’s page.
“This one says Elizabeth Hale.”
Brier shrugged.
“People sign differently.”
“Certainly.”
Elena smiled.
“That is why we also examined the paper.”
Celeste’s expression changed.
“The watermark comes from a manufacturer that did not introduce this paper stock until two years after Elizabeth Hale died.”
The boardroom went silent.
Brier stopped moving.
Elena turned toward her.
“So either the paper traveled backward through time.”
She paused.
“Or someone forged a dead woman’s signature.”
Celeste stood.
“This meeting is over.”
“No,” Graham said.
Everyone looked at him.
He had been calm through every argument.
Now his voice was ice.
“This meeting is just beginning.”
He turned toward security.
“Ms. Logan is not to leave the building until counsel determines whether law enforcement should be contacted.”
Brier’s composure finally broke.
She looked at Declan.
“Do something.”
He stared back.
Then she screamed.
“You said you would protect me.”
I turned slowly toward my husband.
Declan looked as shocked as I was.
May you like
Brier realized what she had said.
Too late.
