Chapter 8: What Victoria Did When She Found Out
Victoria called Victor's phone eleven times between six and seven that evening.
Sarah knew because Victor was sitting at Marsh's conference table when the calls came in, and he set the phone screen-up so they could all see the name lighting up over and over.
On the twelfth call, Marsh nodded.
Victor answered.
"Where are you?" Victoria's voice came through the speaker clearly enough that everyone in the room could hear it.
"I've been calling for an hour."
"I'm with Sarah," Victor said.
"And Gerald Marsh."
A silence that had a specific texture to it — the silence of someone recalculating very quickly.
"Victor." Her voice dropped.
"Whatever they've told you, it isn't—"
"She never signed a relinquishment, Victoria."
"The document is notarized.
The attorney—"
"The attorney practices inheritance law, not family law.
Dad's account funded the retainer without his consent.
And the declaration you attached to the petition — the one with Dad's signature — was signed after his first stroke." Victor's voice was steady in a way Sarah hadn't heard from him before.
"How did you get him to sign it?"
"I don't know what you think you know, but—"
"How did you get his signature?"
Another silence.
"He understood what he was signing," Victoria said.
"He was having a good day."
"His physician has already provided a statement that he was not legally competent at that time." Marsh leaned toward the phone.
"Ms.
Hargrove, this is Gerald Marsh.
I want you to understand the current situation clearly.
I have filed an emergency motion to stay the temporary custody order on the grounds of fraudulent misrepresentation.
I have also contacted the court regarding the notarized relinquishment document bearing Ms.
Sarah's signature.
A handwriting analyst will be reviewing that document tomorrow morning.
And I have been in contact with the district attorney's office regarding the unauthorized use of your father's line of credit."
The silence this time was longer.
"You can't prove any of that," Victoria said.
But something in her voice had shifted — a thinning, like ice that has been walked on too many times.
"The account records are already subpoenaed," Marsh said.
"The notary who stamped the relinquishment document has been contacted.
And Ruth Calloway has provided a signed written statement regarding the removal of documents from your father's study." He paused.
"I can prove all of it, Ms.
Hargrove.
The question is whether you would like to discuss a path forward that does not end in criminal charges, or whether you would prefer to continue the current approach."
A long pause.
"I want to speak to my own attorney," Victoria said.
"That would be wise," Marsh said.
The call ended.
Victor set the phone down on the table.
His hands were flat on the surface.
He didn't pick it up again.
Noah was in the next room with Ellen, eating crackers and watching something on her phone.
His voice came through the wall occasionally — small sounds, happy sounds, the sounds of a two-year-old who had found his footing again.
"She'll fight it," Victor said.
"She'll try," Marsh said.
"But she has no ground left to fight from.
The forged relinquishment alone is enough to remove her from any legal standing in this matter.
The fraudulent use of your father's account is a separate criminal issue.
And the misrepresentation to the court—" He paused.
"Judges do not respond well to being misled.
Particularly in cases involving children."
Victor nodded slowly.
He looked at Sarah.
"I'm sorry," he said.
"I know that's not enough."
"It's not," Sarah said.
"But it's a start."
She stood up, walked to the door of the next room, and looked in.
Noah had a cracker in each hand.
He looked up at her and held one out.
She took it.
He went back to the video on Ellen's phone, completely satisfied, as if the world had always been exactly this size and this safe.
Sarah leaned against the doorframe and watched him.
Behind her, she heard Marsh say to Victor, "The stay will likely be granted by morning.
I'll call you when I have confirmation."
May you like
Morning felt very far away.
But Noah was three feet in front of her, and that was enough for tonight.
