Chapter 16
She looked at me for a moment.
"Mrs.
Calloway, you have a clear civil claim for the income collected — fourteen thousand dollars plus any additional revenue that can be documented.
You also have grounds to report this to law enforcement.
The forgery alone is a felony under Idaho statute.
The income collection compounds it."
"I know," I said.
"I wanted to understand the full picture before I decided."
"What's giving you pause?"
I thought about Madison in the armchair the day before, her hand under mine, the honest sorry sitting between us.
"My daughter knew about the rentals," I said.
"She didn't arrange the forgery and I believe she didn't know about the signature specifically.
But she knew income was coming in and she didn't tell me."
Patricia nodded slowly.
"She isn't named on the contract.
The legal exposure sits with Richard Hale and potentially Connor Hale depending on how the account is structured." She paused.
"Reporting this doesn't necessarily pull your daughter in.
But I'd be dishonest if I told you it's entirely clean either."
"What would you do?" I asked.
She picked up her pen again.
"I'd file a formal demand letter first.
Give them fourteen days to return the full fourteen thousand dollars, provide a complete accounting of all rental transactions, and dissolve the management agreement in writing.
Make clear that failure to comply triggers a criminal referral." She looked at me steadily.
"That gives them one chance to make it right.
It also puts everything in writing.
If they don't comply — or if they destroy records, change anything in the accounts, or attempt to interfere with your sale — you proceed to law enforcement and civil court simultaneously."
I looked at the folder on her desk.
May you like
"Draft the letter," I said.
She was already writing.
