Chapter 4: The Signature That Shouldn’t Exist
Margaret picked up the amendment.
“This signature is a forgery.”
Calvin Price removed his glasses.
“A judge found enough evidence to preserve the current ownership until a hearing.”
Robert held out his hand to Emily.
“Give me the deed and the key.
You can stay here if you apologize.”
Emily stared at him.
“You locked me in the snow.”
“You embarrassed me in my own dining room.”
“You threw me out because I would not sign away my rights.”
“I gave you eighteen years of comfort.”
Margaret placed the amendment beside Evelyn’s letter.
“And how much did that comfort cost her trust?”
The deputy cleared his throat.
“Until the court reviews this, no one removes documents or property.”
“Then Robert must leave too,” Emily said.
Calvin shook his head.
“My client is the recorded resident.”
Robert smiled.
“Pack a bag, Emily.”
Her fingers tightened around Evelyn’s letter.
“You knew this order was coming.”
“I know how adults protect what they built.”
“You built nothing,” Margaret said.
“Evelyn’s father bought this estate.”
Robert stepped close to her.
“And your board meets at nine tomorrow.
Shall I tell them how their chairwoman lost control of a family trust?”
“Tell them whatever you like.”
“I own enough proxy votes to remove you.”
Margaret’s chin lifted, but her hand pressed against the desk.
Emily saw it.
“Is that true?”
Robert answered for her.
“Your grandmother came to rescue you with a company she may not control by morning.”
Karen appeared with a wool coat and a pair of shoes.
Robert frowned.
“What are you doing?”
“She cannot go out dressed like that.”
“She is not your responsibility.”
Karen wrapped the coat around Emily’s shoulders.
“Someone should have acted as if she were.”
Emily stared at her.
“You closed the curtains.”
Karen’s hands stopped at the collar.
“Yes.”
“You saw me out there.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Karen looked toward Robert.
“Because he said if I opened that door, I would leave with you.”
Robert’s voice dropped.
“Careful.”
“No.
I have been careful for six years.”
Karen pushed the shoes toward Emily.
“Put these on.”
Emily’s eyes filled, but she did not move.
“You could have chosen me.”
“I should have.”
The words broke something Emily had been holding together.
She covered her mouth, and Margaret reached for her.
Emily recoiled.
“Don’t.
Both of you watched him decide what happened to us.”
Margaret lowered her hand.
“You are right.”
Karen knelt and slipped one shoe onto Emily’s cold foot.
“I cannot undo that door,” she said.
“But I can stop letting him close the next one.”
Robert grabbed Karen’s wrist.
“You will come upstairs.”
“Release her,” the deputy said.
Robert let go slowly.
“My wife is upset.”
Karen stood behind Emily.
“Your amendment says Evelyn signed it on March fourteenth.”
Calvin glanced at the page.
“That is correct.”
Karen looked at Margaret.
“Where was Evelyn that day?”
Margaret reached for her phone.
“St.
Anne’s Medical Center.”
“That proves nothing,” Robert said.
Karen shook her head.
“It proves more than you think.
She could not hold a pen after March twelfth.”
Calvin’s eyes moved to Robert.
“You told me the document was witnessed at home.”
“It was.”
“By whom?”
Robert’s jaw hardened.
“A nurse.”
“What was her name?” Emily asked.
Robert pointed at the door.
“Get out.”
The deputy stepped between them.
“Mr.
Carter, this situation is close to becoming something else.”
Karen pulled a small phone from her pocket and placed it in Emily’s hand.
“Your father keeps a second office above the garage.
He thinks I don’t know the code.”
Robert’s face changed.
May you like
Karen leaned closer to Emily.
“The code is your mother’s birthday, and there is a metal box beneath the floor.”
