Chapter 5
I had never signed this document.
I had never heard of Pend Oreille Property Solutions.
And I had certainly never authorized anyone to collect rental income on my behalf.
Richard stepped through the glass door behind me.
"I can explain that," he said.
I turned around slowly.
"You forged my signature."
"That's a very dramatic way to describe—"
"It is a forgery, Richard.
My name on a document I never saw, authorizing you to rent my house and collect money I never received." I held the folder up.
"How much have you collected?"
He didn't answer immediately.
He looked past me toward the lake, jaw working slightly, as if he were calculating something.
"Enough to cover the maintenance costs," he finally said.
"The dock needed work last fall.
The gutters.
Someone had to pay for it."
"I pay for it.
That is my responsibility.
And you had no right—"
"Madison wanted the house protected." His voice hardened.
"You were going to sell it out from under the family.
She was upset.
We were trying to help."
"By forging my name on a legal contract?"
"By keeping the property in the family where it belongs."
I set the folder back on the table.
I didn't trust my hands to hold it steadily anymore.
Alan Mercer was still waiting beside his car.
One of the rental guests appeared in the doorway behind Richard, suitcase handle already extended, clearly ready to leave as quickly and quietly as possible.
"How many people know about this agreement?" I asked.
Richard shrugged.
"It's a family matter."
"It is a crjme." I kept my voice flat.
"Forging a property owner's signature on a management contract is fraud.
Using that contract to collect rental income is theft."
Something moved behind his eyes.
Not guilt.
Recalculation.
"You wouldn't do that to Madison," he said quietly.
"She's your daughter."
"Madison didn't forge my name.
May you like
You did."
"She knew about the arrangement."
