Chapter 4: The Signature## Chapter 4: The Signature of a Dead Man
For several seconds, nobody moved.
I of a Dead Man
For several seconds, nobody moved.
I stared at the signature beneath my father's name.
stared at the signature beneath my father's name.
It was unmistakable.
The same sharp capital R. The same unusual curve beneath the final letter. The same small ink mark he always made when signing important documents.
My father had been dead for seven yearsIt was unmistakable.
The same sharp capital R. The same unusual curve beneath the final letter. The same small ink mark he always made when signing important documents.
My father had been dead for seven years.
Yet someone had used his signature to authorize a transfer worth millions of dollars.
I picked up the document.
“Where did you get this?””
Leonard Cross stood.
Yet someone had used his signature to authorize a transfer worth millions of dollars.
I picked up the document.
“Where did you get this?””
Leonard Cross stood beside the coffee table, his expression unreadable.
“From beside the coffee table, his expression unreadable.
“From the financial records your wife provided.””
I looked at Camille.
She was standing near the entrance, gripping her handbag so tightly that her knuckles had turned white.
“Explain this.””
Camille shook her head.
“I don't know what you're looking at.””
“That's my father's signature.””
“I can see that.””
“He's been dead for seven years!””
“Then perhaps someone forged it.””
I stared at her.
“Someone?””
She looked away.
I took another step toward her.
“Camille, whose signature is this?””
She raised her voice.
“I said the financial records your wife provided.””
I looked at Camille.
She was standing near the entrance, gripping her handbag so tightly that her knuckles had turned white.
“Explain this.””
Camille shook her head.
“I don't know what you're looking at.””
“That's my father's signature.””
“I can see that.””
“He's been dead for seven years!””
“Then perhaps someone forged it.””
I stared at her.
“Someone?””
She looked away.
I took another step toward her.
“Camille, whose signature is this?””
She raised her voice.
“I said I don't know!””
Vanessa I don't know!””
Vanessa moved closer to the table.
“Darius, look at the date.””
I lowered my eyes.
The document had been issued four years after my father's death.
The transfer authorization was for $8.7 million.
The receiving company was moved closer to the table.
“Darius, look at the date.””
I lowered my eyes.
The document had been issued four years after my father's death.
The transfer authorization was for $8.7 million.
The receiving company was called Brooks Heritage Holdings.
I had never heard of it.
“What called Brooks Heritage Holdings.
I had never heard of it.
“What is Brooks Heritage Holdings?”” I asked.
Leon is Brooks Heritage Holdings?”” I asked.
Leonard answered.
“A company established shortly after your father's death. Itsard answered.
“A company established shortly after your father's death. Its registered ownership was transferred twice. The current controlling interest belongs to an offshore trust.””
I looked at Camille.
“Did you create this company?””
She said nothing.
“Camille!””
She finally looked at me.
“You wouldn't understand.””
“Then registered ownership was transferred twice. The current controlling interest belongs to an offshore trust.””
I looked at Camille.
“Did you create this company?””
She said nothing.
“Camille!””
She finally looked at me.
“You wouldn't understand.””
“Then explain it.””
Her lips tightened.
“Your father left debts.””
I shook my head.
“My father left a profitable business and a clean estate.””
“You were never told everything.””
“Because you were apparently hiding it?””
Camille's eyes flashed.
“You think your father was some kind of saint? You think he built that company without making enemies?””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“What enemies?””
She looked at Leonard.
He gave a small nod.
Camille closed her eyes.
Then she said, “Your father was involved in a private investment arrangement before he died.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
“Yes.””
“He never told me about anything like that.””
“Because he didn't want you involved.””
I looked down at the document again.
“Then why is his signature here?””
Camille didn't answer.
Leonard stepped closer.
“Because the company needed authorization to move money after his death. Someone had access to his old signature records.””
“Who?””
Leonard glanced at Camille.
“Your wife.””
I turned explain it.””
Her lips tightened.
“Your father left debts.””
I shook my head.
“My father left a profitable business and a clean estate.””
“You were never told everything.””
“Because you were apparently hiding it?””
Camille's eyes flashed.
“You think your father was some kind of saint? You think he built that company without making enemies?””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“What enemies?””
She looked at Leonard.
He gave a small nod.
Camille closed her eyes.
Then she said, “Your father was involved in a private investment arrangement before he died.””
I shook my head.
“No.””
“Yes.””
“He never told me about anything like that.””
“Because he didn't want you involved.””
I looked down at the document again.
“Then why is his signature here?””
Camille didn't answer.
Leonard stepped closer.
“Because the company needed authorization to move money after his death. Someone had access to his old signature records.””
“Who?””
Leonard glanced at Camille.
“Your wife.””
I turned toward toward her.
Camille immediately shook her head.
“That's not true.””
“Then why did you receive payments from the holding company?”” Leonard asked.
Her face changed.
He opened his folder and removed several printed bank statements.
“Three years of transfers. Monthly payments. Different amounts, her.
Camille immediately shook her head.
“That's not true.””
“Then why did you receive payments from the holding company?”” Leonard asked.
Her face changed.
He opened his folder and removed several printed bank statements.
“Three years of transfers. Monthly payments. Different amounts, but always from the same account.””
He placed them on the table.
Camille looked at the pages.
Then she did something I had never seen but always from the same account.””
He placed them on the table.
Camille looked at the pages.
Then she did something I had never seen her do before.
She began to cry.
her do before.
She began to cry.
Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
Just a few tears slipping down her face while she stared at the documents.
“Darius,” she whispered.
I didn't move.
“Please.””
I looked at her.
“Tell me the truth.””
She wiped her cheekNot loudly.
Not dramatically.
Just a few tears slipping down her face while she stared at the documents.
“Darius,” she whispered.
I didn't move.
“Please.””
I looked at her.
“Tell me the truth.””
She wiped her cheek.
“I was trying to protect us.””
“From what?””
“Your father's mistakes.””
“My father is dead, Camille. Stop using him to explain your choices.””
She flinched.
Van.
“I was trying to protect us.””
“From what?””
“Your father's mistakes.””
“My father is dead, Camille. Stop using him to explain your choices.””
She flinched.
Vanessa stepped forward.
“Darius, there's something else.””
I turned.
She was holding the second page of the financial report.
“Lookessa stepped forward.
“Darius, there's something else.””
I turned.
She was holding the second page of the financial report.
“Look at the company registration date.””
I leaned over.
The holding company had been established six weeks before my father died.
I read the at the company registration date.””
I leaned over.
The holding company had been established six weeks before my father died.
I read the date again.
Six weeks.
My father had been healthy then.
He had been working every day.
He had even date again.
Six weeks.
My father had been healthy then.
He had been working every day.
He had even attended my company's tenth-anniversary celebration.
I remembered that night.
He had stood beside me in attended my company's tenth-anniversary celebration.
I remembered that night.
He had stood beside me in a navy suit, holding a glass of champagne.
He had smiled when I introduced him to our biggest clients.
And a navy suit, holding a glass of champagne.
He had smiled when I introduced him to our biggest clients.
And before before leaving, he had pulled me aside.
* leaving, he had pulled me aside.
Never let anyone convince you that moneyNever let anyone convince you that money is more important than the people who trust you.
At the time, I thought he was giving is more important than the people who trust you.*
At the time, I thought he was giving me ordinary fatherly advice.
Now me ordinary fatherly advice.
Now I wondered whether he had been trying to warn me.
“ I wondered whether he had been trying to warn me.
“Leonard,” I said quietly.
“Who established thisLeonard,” I said quietly.
“Who established this company?””
He turned another page.
company?””
He turned another page.
“The original registration lists a director named Arthur“The original registration lists a director named Arthur Whitaker.””
I looked at Vanessa.
She went completely still.
“Arthur Whitaker?””
She nodded Whitaker.””
I looked at Vanessa.
She went completely still.
“Arthur Whitaker?””
She nodded slowly.
“He was my father's business partner.””
I stared at her.
“You knew him?””
“ slowly.
“He was my father's business partner.””
I stared at her.
“You knew him?””
“Not personally. He died before I started working with my father.””
Leonard closed the folder.
“Then there's a connection between your father's estate, the holding company, and the Whitaker family.””
I looked atNot personally. He died before I started working with my father.””
Leonard closed the folder.
“Then there's a connection between your father's estate, the holding company, and the Whitaker family.””
I looked at Camille.
“Did you know Vanessa's father was connected to this?””
Camille's silence answered before her words did.
“Yes Camille.
“Did you know Vanessa's father was connected to this?””
Camille's silence answered before her words did.
“Yes,” she finally whispered.
My chest tightened.
“You knew who she was?””
“I knew her family name.””
“And you still hired these men?””
Camille looked,” she finally whispered.
My chest tightened.
“You knew who she was?””
“I knew her family name.””
“And you still hired these men?””
Camille looked at Vanessa.
“I didn't know she was investigating the at Vanessa.
“I didn't know she was investigating the accounts.””
Vanessa stared at her.
“So you knew I was his daughter, but you didn't know what I was doing?””
Camille said nothing.
accounts.””
Vanessa stared at her.
“So you knew I was his daughter, but you didn't know what I was doing?””
Camille said nothing.
Vanessa shook her head.
“You wanted me dead before you even understood what I knew.””
Camille's expression hardened again.
“You have no idea what your father did.””
Vanessa stepped closer.
“Then tell me.””
Camille looked at Leonard.
He didn't intervene.
She took a breath.
“Your father wasn'tVanessa shook her head.
“You wanted me dead before you even understood what I knew.””
Camille's expression hardened again.
“You have no idea what your father did.””
Vanessa stepped closer.
“Then tell me.””
Camille looked at Leonard.
He didn't intervene.
She took a breath.
“Your father wasn't an innocent businessman. He helped establish the financial structure that your husband inherited. When things started going wrong, he protected an innocent businessman.
He helped establish the financial structure that your husband inherited. When things started going wrong, he protected himself.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“My father spent his life helping hospitals.””
“Your father was a businessman before he was a philanthropist.””
“That's not an answer.””
Camille picked up her handbag.
“I'm leaving.””
Leonard moved toward the door.
“No, you're not.””
She himself.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“My father spent his life helping hospitals.””
“Your father was a businessman before he was a philanthropist.””
“That's not an answer.””
Camille picked up her handbag.
“I'm leaving.””
Leonard moved toward the door.
“No, you're not.””
She stopped.
“Excuse me?””
“You hired my organization to conduct an operation. You also withheld material information about the target. We're not finished.””
Camille looked at him with disgust.
“You work for me.””
Leonard's expression didn't change.
“You paid stopped.
“Excuse me?””
“You hired my organization to conduct an operation. You also withheld material information about the target. We're not finished.””
Camille looked at him with disgust.
“You work for me.””
Leonard's expression didn't change.
“You paid for a service. That doesn't make me your employee.””
I stepped between them.
“Everyone needs to leave my house.””
Leonard looked at me.
“Mr. Brooks, you need to understand that this situation is larger for a service. That doesn't make me your employee.””
I stepped between them.
“Everyone needs to leave my house.””
Leonard looked at me.
“Mr. Brooks, you need to understand that this situation is larger than a marital dispute.””
“I understand enough.””
“Then you should listen carefully. There are people who will than a marital dispute.””
“I understand enough.””
“Then you should listen carefully. There are people who will want those financial records.””
I held his gaze.
“Let them come through my attorney.””
Leonard nodded once.
He want those financial records.””
I held his gaze.
“Let them come through my attorney.””
Leonard nodded once.
He motioned to his men.
“Everybody out.””
One of the men opened motioned to his men.
“Everybody out.””
One of the men opened the door.
Camille walked toward it, but the door.
Camille walked toward it, but stopped beside me.
Her voice was barely audible.
“You should never have brought her into this house.””
I looked at her.
“You brought the danger here stopped beside me.
Her voice was barely audible.
“You should never have brought her into this house.””
I looked at her.
“You brought the danger here.””
She stared at me for a moment.
Then she walked outside.
Vanessa remained beside the coffee table.
I looked at her.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
She lowered her eyes.
“Because I didn't know how much you were involved.””
“I'm asking about your investigation.””
.””
She stared at me for a moment.
Then she walked outside.
Vanessa remained beside the coffee table.
I looked at her.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
She lowered her eyes.
“Because I didn't know how much you were involved.””
“I'm asking about your investigation.””
She swallowed.
“My father asked me to look into something before he died.””
“What?””
She looked toward the document bearing my father's signature.
“He told meShe swallowed.
“My father asked me to look into something before he died.””
“What?””
She looked toward the document bearing my father's signature.
“He told me that someone had stolen money from a company he helped build. He said the theft was connected to a family he trusted.””
I felt cold.
that someone had stolen money from a company he helped build. He said the theft was connected to a family he trusted.””
I felt cold.
“What family?””
Vanessa looked directly at me.
“Yours.””
Before I could answer, a phone began vibrating.
It was Leonard's.
He checked the screen.
Then his expression changed.
He answered.
“Talk.””
A man's voice came through the speaker.
Leon“What family?””
Vanessa looked directly at me.
“Yours.””
Before I could answer, a phone began vibrating.
It was Leonard's.
He checked the screen.
Then his expression changed.
He answered.
“Talk.””
A man's voice came through the speaker.
Leonard listened without interrupting.
Then he looked at me.
“That's impossible.””
“Whatard listened without interrupting.
Then he looked at me.
“That's impossible.””
“What?””
He ended the call.
“?””
He ended the call.
“Someone has entered your father's old office.””
I frowned.
“My father's office wasSomeone has entered your father's old office.””
I frowned.
“My father's office was sold years ago.””
Leonard shook his head.
“Not the office building. The private archive.””
My heart began sold years ago.””
Leonard shook his head.
“Not the office building. The private archive.””
My heart began pounding.
“What archive?””
He looked at Vanessa.
“Apparently, your father left something behind.””
Then Leonard delivered the sentence that made me forget about Camille, the money, and even the men standing near the entrance.
“Someone has just opened a safe registered in your dead father's name.””
pounding.
“What archive?””
He looked at Vanessa.
“Apparently, your father left something behind.””
May you like
Then Leonard delivered the sentence that made me forget about Camille, the money, and even the men standing near the entrance.
“Someone has just opened a safe registered in your dead father's name.””
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