Chapter 4: The Signature That Looked Real
At eight the next morning, Evelyn placed the tablet on the desk of bank manager Helen Hall.
“Stop the transfer,” Aaliyah said.
Helen adjusted her glasses.
“The funds are frozen while we review the dispute.”
“Frozen means they haven’t gone to Mia?”
“Not yet.”
Vanessa leaned back in her chair.
“You’re frightening these girls over a misunderstanding.”
Aaliyah faced her.
“You tried to take everything Grandpa left me.”
“I tried to correct an unfair arrangement.”
“You don’t get to correct someone else’s will.”
David pushed the transfer request toward Helen.
“My daughter didn’t sign this.”
Helen opened a file on her computer.
“The signature was witnessed by a licensed notary named Martin Cole.”
“I’ve never met him,” Aaliyah said.
Vanessa took out her phone.
“Perhaps this will refresh your memory.”
A video began playing.
It showed Aaliyah sitting at the kitchen table two weeks earlier, signing several sheets of paper.
“That was my graduation permission form,” Aaliyah said.
Vanessa paused the video on Aaliyah’s pen touching the page.
“The camera cannot see the document.
It only shows you signing.”
“Because you filmed me from the doorway.”
“You signed willingly.”
“Not a transfer request.”
Vanessa placed a copy of the document beside the phone.
Aaliyah’s signature matched the one in the video.
Helen folded her hands.
“Until we establish which document was signed, the transfer and the education account must remain frozen.”
“My college deposit is due Friday,” Aaliyah said.
“Without access to the fund, the deadline may pass.”
Vanessa’s mouth lifted slightly.
“I’m willing to solve that problem.”
“How?” David asked.
“Let Mia receive the transfer.
I’ll pay Aaliyah’s first semester myself.”
“You want me to trade my whole future for one semester?” Aaliyah asked.
“I’m offering peace.”
“You offered Mia a car to destroy my dress.”
Mia lowered her eyes.
Vanessa tapped the desk.
“Mia was upset.
Children say foolish things.”
“She’s seventeen,” Evelyn replied.
“And she repeated your exact plan.”
Helen turned the tablet toward herself.
“May I see the synchronized messages?”
Mia entered the password.
The message thread appeared, but every line sent from Vanessa’s private number now carried an unfamiliar label: UNKNOWN DEVICE.
Vanessa smiled.
“You cannot prove that number belongs to me.”
David took out his phone and dialed it.
No sound came from Vanessa’s handbag.
“You see?” she said.
Aaliyah watched Vanessa’s face instead of the bag.
“Call it again.”
David pressed redial.
This time, a faint vibration came from Mia’s backpack.
Mia opened it and pulled out a small phone she had never seen before.
Vanessa stood up.
“Someone planted that.”
“You packed my bag this morning,” Mia said.
“I was helping you.”
“No.
You were hiding it on me.”
Helen pressed a button beneath her desk.
“No one is leaving until bank security arrives.”
Vanessa sat down slowly.
Then the office door opened, and a gray-haired man in a navy coat entered.
“I’m Martin Cole,” he said.
“I witnessed Aaliyah’s signature.”
Aaliyah rose from her chair.
“I have never seen you before.”
Martin looked directly at her.
May you like
“Yes, you have,” he replied.
“And I have a photograph to prove it.”
