Chapter 3: The Man With the Silver Case
Amber climbed out first.
Her father, Martin Vale, followed with a silver document case, while a thin man carrying a notary bag stepped onto the driveway behind them.
Amber stopped beneath my porch light.
“Open the door, Margaret.
We can settle this privately.”
“You had fifty guests when you humiliated me.
Why do you need privacy now?”
Martin lifted the silver case.
“Because family disagreements should not damage a profitable company.”
“My company,” I said.
“For the moment,” Amber replied.
Steven turned toward her.
“You said the papers were only to protect my inheritance.”
“They do protect it.”
“From whom?”
Amber pointed at me.
“From a woman making reckless decisions because her feelings were hurt.”
I removed the chain but kept the door closed against the frame.
“Who is the man behind you?”
He adjusted his glasses.
“Ellis Cole.
I witnessed your signature this morning.”
“I was at the anniversary venue all morning.”
Ellis looked at Martin.
Martin stared back until the man lowered his eyes.
My phone was still connected to my lawyer.
“Daniel, did you hear that?”
“Every word,” Daniel said through the speaker.
“Do not accept anything.
I’m fifteen minutes away.”
Martin opened the case and held up a folder.
“Daniel cannot change what Margaret signed.”
“Then show me.”
Amber snatched the folder from him.
“Restore our cards first.”
“Our cards?” I asked.
“How many are there?”
Steven rubbed both hands over his face.
“Amber, tell her.”
“Stay out of this.”
“He is already in it,” I said.
“His name is on the transfer.”
Martin pushed the folder against the glass.
My signature appeared on the final page, but the date beside it had been written in blue ink.
I tapped the window.
“I use black ink on company documents.”
Amber smiled.
“A pen color will not save you.”
“No, but the security cameras at my office might.”
Her smile vanished for half a second.
Martin closed the folder.
Steven saw it too.
“You told me Mom signed these.”
“She did.”
“Then why are you afraid of a camera?”
Amber stepped close enough that he backed against the railing.
“Because your mother is twisting everything to punish us.”
I opened the door when Daniel’s headlights reached the driveway.
He came up the path holding his phone in one hand and an evidence envelope in the other.
“Ellis Cole,” Daniel said.
“Your notary commission expired eleven months ago.”
Ellis grabbed the strap of his bag.
“I was told it had been renewed.”
“By Martin?”
“I didn’t say that.”
Martin moved between them.
“This conversation is over.”
“No,” Steven said.
His voice cracked, but he did not look away.
“It’s just beginning.”
Amber caught his wrist.
“Get in the car.”
Steven pulled free.
“Not until you tell me why my signature is on a transfer I’ve never seen.”
Daniel opened the envelope.
“Unfortunately, Steven, you have seen part of it.”
He held up a witness page bearing Steven’s signature.
I looked at my son.
“Did you sign that?”
Steven’s shoulders folded.
“I didn’t know what it was,” he whispered.
“Amber covered the top of the page.”
May you like
Amber turned toward the car, but Daniel’s next words stopped her.
“That signature makes Steven either your witness,” he said, “or your accomplice.”
