Chapter 7: ## Chapter 7: The Signature That Wasn't Mine
For several seconds, I couldn't speak: The Signature That Wasn't Mine
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
My mother's name was on the document.
My mother's name was on the document. My father's signature was beneath it. And somewhere in the middle of a.
My father's signature was beneath it. And somewhere in the middle of a corporate investigation, someone had apparently used my identity to authorize something I corporate investigation, someone had apparently used my identity to authorize something I had never seen.
I looked at my father.
"Dad, had never seen.
I looked at my father.
"Dad, what is Project Evelyn?""
He pulled out the chair beside me what is Project Evelyn?""
He pulled out the chair beside me.
"Sit down, sweetheart.""
"I'm already sitting.""
He gave a sad little.
"Sit down, sweetheart.""
"I'm already sitting.""
He gave a sad little smile.
"I know. I'm sorry.""
He glanced at Amara, who smile.
"I know. I'm sorry.""
He glanced at Amara, who was sleeping against my chest, then turned toward James Carter.
" was sleeping against my chest, then turned toward James Carter.
"Show her everything.""
James opened his laptop again.
"Show her everything.""
James opened his laptop again.
"Project Evelyn was originally created by your mother. It was supposedProject Evelyn was originally created by your mother. It was supposed to protect the airline's passenger-access standards from being to protect the airline's passenger-access standards from being changed for financial or political convenience.""
I frowned.
" changed for financial or political convenience.""
I frowned.
"How?""
"Your mother believed that a premiumHow?""
"Your mother believed that a premium airline should offer excellent service without making people feel that their dignity depended on their wealth airline should offer excellent service without making people feel that their dignity depended on their wealth. She wanted an independent trust to monitor complaints and investigate patterns of unfair. She wanted an independent trust to monitor complaints and investigate patterns of unfair treatment.""
I looked at the screen.
A photograph of my mother appeared.
treatment.""
I looked at the screen.
A photograph of my mother appeared.
She was standing beside my father at what looked likeShe was standing beside my father at what looked like an airline launch event. She wore a simple cream-colored dress and held an airline launch event. She wore a simple cream-colored dress and held a pair of scissors beside a ceremonial ribbon.
I remembered that dress.
She a pair of scissors beside a ceremonial ribbon.
I remembered that dress.
She had worn it to my thirteenth birthday dinner afterward.
My father had had worn it to my thirteenth birthday dinner afterward.
My father had kept the photograph in his study for years kept the photograph in his study for years.
James continued.
"After your mother passed away, the trust became inactive in its.
James continued.
"After your mother passed away, the trust became inactive in its operational role. However, its oversight provisions remained legally protected.""
operational role. However, its oversight provisions remained legally protected.""
"Why would someone want to take control of it?""
James hesitated.
"Because whoever"Why would someone want to take control of it?""
James hesitated.
"Because whoever controls the trust's reporting structure can influence which complaints reach the board controls the trust's reporting structure can influence which complaints reach the board.""
Thomas Whitaker leaned forward.
"You're saying someone.""
Thomas Whitaker leaned forward.
"You're saying someone wanted to silence passenger complaints?""
"That's one possibility.""
wanted to silence passenger complaints?""
"That's one possibility.""
My father looked at the document.
"Who created the fraudulent authorizationMy father looked at the document.
"Who created the fraudulent authorization?""
James clicked another tab.
"The signature was digitally generated using a?""
James clicked another tab.
"The signature was digitally generated using a file associated with Mr. Brooks's executive account. However, the authorization file associated with Mr.
Brooks's executive account. However, the authorization certificate doesn't match his original signature records.""
My father shook his head certificate doesn't match his original signature records.""
My father shook his head.
"I never signed this.""
James nodded.
"I believe.
"I never signed this.""
James nodded.
"I believe you.""
Michael Grant laughed from across the room.
you.""
Michael Grant laughed from across the room.
"Convenient.""
My father looked at him.
"Do you have"Convenient.""
My father looked at him.
"Do you have something useful to contribute?""
Michael folded his arms.
"This entire something useful to contribute?""
Michael folded his arms.
"This entire investigation is based on documents nobody has authenticated. You're investigation is based on documents nobody has authenticated. You're making accusations against senior management because of a disagreement in making accusations against senior management because of a disagreement in a lounge.""
Thomas turned sharply.
"A passenger was assaulted. We a lounge.""
Thomas turned sharply.
"A passenger was assaulted. We have video evidence, witness statements, internal instructions, and suspicious financial have video evidence, witness statements, internal instructions, and suspicious financial records. This is no longer a disagreement about seating.""
records. This is no longer a disagreement about seating.""
Michael looked toward the security officers.
"I want legalMichael looked toward the security officers.
"I want legal representation.""
"You are entitled to request it," Thomas replied.
" representation.""
"You are entitled to request it," Thomas replied.
"But you are not entitled to interfere with evidence.""
Michael sat down.
But you are not entitled to interfere with evidence.""
Michael sat down.
I looked at James.
"Can you show me the signature?""
I looked at James.
"Can you show me the signature?""
He turned the laptop toward me.
There it was.
My name.
My supposed authorizationHe turned the laptop toward me.
There it was.
My name.
My supposed authorization.
And a date from three days earlier.
I read the paragraph.
And a date from three days earlier.
I read the paragraph beneath it.
*I, Danielle Evelyn Brooks, voluntarily authorize the transfer of all beneath it.
I, Danielle Evelyn Brooks, voluntarily authorize the transfer of all independent passenger-welfare oversight responsibilities to the executive independent passenger-welfare oversight responsibilities to the executive regional administration.
My stomach tightened.
"I would regional administration.*
My stomach tightened.
"I would never sign this.""
James nodded.
"We know.""
"How?""
never sign this.""
James nodded.
"We know.""
"How?""
He opened another document.
"Because the authorization was submittedHe opened another document.
"Because the authorization was submitted from a device that wasn't registered to you. The electronic identity verification was also from a device that wasn't registered to you. The electronic identity verification was also incomplete.""
My father leaned forward.
"Can we identify the device incomplete.""
My father leaned forward.
"Can we identify the device?""
James clicked on the technical record.
"The request originated from a?""
James clicked on the technical record.
"The request originated from a corporate laptop assigned to the regional office.""
Thomas looked toward corporate laptop assigned to the regional office.""
Thomas looked toward Michael.
Michael immediately stood.
"That doesn't prove anything.""
James Michael.
Michael immediately stood.
"That doesn't prove anything.""
James replied calmly.
"It doesn't prove who physically used replied calmly.
"It doesn't prove who physically used the laptop. That's why we need a full investigation.""
My father looked at me the laptop. That's why we need a full investigation.""
My father looked at me.
"Danielle, I need to.
"Danielle, I need to tell you something.""
I already knew I wasn't going to like it.
"What?""
"Your mother left tell you something.""
I already knew I wasn't going to like it.
"What?""
"Your mother left you more than the oversight rights.""
He you more than the oversight rights.""
He reached into his briefcase and removed a small envelope.
It was old.
reached into his briefcase and removed a small envelope.
It was old.
The paper had yellowed slightly around the edges.
My name wasThe paper had yellowed slightly around the edges.
My name was written across the front in my mother's handwriting.
My breath caught.
"Where did you written across the front in my mother's handwriting.
My breath caught.
"Where did you get that?""
"Your mother gave it to me before she died. She asked me get that?""
"Your mother gave it to me before she died. She asked me to give it to you when you were ready.""
I touched the envelope.
I to give it to you when you were ready.""
I touched the envelope.
I recognized the handwriting immediately.
The same handwriting that had labeled my school recognized the handwriting immediately.
The same handwriting that had labeled my school lunches.
The same handwriting that had written birthday cards and little lunches.
The same handwriting that had written birthday cards and little notes inside my books.
My eyes filled with tears.
"Why didn't you notes inside my books.
My eyes filled with tears.
"Why didn't you give it to me?""
My father looked down.
"I thought give it to me?""
My father looked down.
"I thought I was protecting you from the business. I didn't I was protecting you from the business. I didn't realize I was keeping you from something she wanted you to understand.""
I opened the envelope carefully realize I was keeping you from something she wanted you to understand.""
I opened the envelope carefully.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
My beautiful Danielle,
*If.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
My beautiful Danielle,
If you're reading this, I hope you've grown into the woman I always knew you're reading this, I hope you've grown into the woman I always knew you would become.
Never measure your worth by the room you're you would become.
Never measure your worth by the room you're allowed to enter.
Never let anyone convince you that kindness is allowed to enter.
Never let anyone convince you that kindness is weakness.
And if you ever find yourself in a position where people are being treated as less important weakness.
And if you ever find yourself in a position where people are being treated as less important because they have less money, remember that silence is because they have less money, remember that silence is also a decision.
I stopped reading.
A also a decision.*
I stopped reading.
A tear landed on the paper.
My tear landed on the paper.
My father looked away.
I continued father looked away.
I continued.
*I have built something.
I have built something with your father that I hope will outlive both of us. But it belongs to neither of us alone. Its purpose is to remind people that dignity is not a luxury product.
If you with your father that I hope will outlive both of us. But it belongs to neither of us alone. Its purpose is to remind people that dignity is not a luxury product.
If you ever decide to take responsibility for it, do so because you believe in the people it protects. Not because anyone tells ever decide to take responsibility for it, do so because you believe in the people it protects. Not because anyone tells you that you must.
I love you beyond anything I could ever put into words you that you must.
I love you beyond anything I could ever put into words.
Mom.
I pressed the letter against.*
Mom.
I pressed the letter against my chest.
For a moment, I was seventeen my chest.
For a moment, I was seventeen again.
I could almost hear her voice.
My father sat quietly beside me.
Then I noticed something written at the bottom of the letter.
A again.
I could almost hear her voice.
My father sat quietly beside me.
Then I noticed something written at the bottom of the letter.
A final sentence.
*And Danielle, if anyone ever tries to use my final sentence.
And Danielle, if anyone ever tries to use my name to silence you, ask them to show you the name to silence you, ask them to show you the blue book.
I looked up.
"Dad?""
He turned blue book.*
I looked up.
"Dad?""
He turned.
"What's the blue book?""
His expression changed.
James immediately looked at.
"What's the blue book?""
His expression changed.
James immediately looked at the screen.
"Wait.""
He typed something into the document the screen.
"Wait.""
He typed something into the document search.
A moment later, a file appeared.
** search.
A moment later, a file appeared.
*EV-01 — ORIGINAL TRUST GOVERNANCE REGISTER.*
James opened it.
The first page contained a scanned photograph ofEV-01 — ORIGINAL TRUST GOVERNANCE REGISTER.**
James opened it.
The first page contained a scanned photograph of a blue leather-bound book.
My father leaned forward.
"I remember that.""
a blue leather-bound book.
My father leaned forward.
"I remember that.""
"What is it?"" I asked.
"Your mother kept it"What is it?"" I asked.
"Your mother kept it in her office.""
"What's inside?""
"Original signatures, beneficiary instructions in her office.""
"What's inside?""
"Original signatures, beneficiary instructions, and the rules governing the trust.""
James nodded.
"According to the archive, and the rules governing the trust.""
James nodded.
"According to the archive index, the original register is still stored in the airline index, the original register is still stored in the airline's secure corporate records facility.""
Thomas frowned.
"Why wasn't it included's secure corporate records facility.""
Thomas frowned.
"Why wasn't it included in the recent review?""
James looked at him.
"Because someone marked it in the recent review?""
James looked at him.
"Because someone marked it as missing.""
My father slowly stood.
"Who?""
as missing.""
My father slowly stood.
"Who?""
James opened the archive history.
There were threeJames opened the archive history.
There were three entries.
The first showed the book being transferred to entries.
The first showed the book being transferred to the corporate records facility.
The second showed a request for retrieval.
The third showed a cancellation the corporate records facility.
The second showed a request for retrieval.
The third showed a cancellation.
The cancellation had been authorized by Michael Grant.
Thomas turned.
The cancellation had been authorized by Michael Grant.
Thomas turned toward him.
"Why did you mark an original governance document as missing?""
toward him.
"Why did you mark an original governance document as missing?""
Michael's voice became defensive.
"It was an administrative classificationMichael's voice became defensive.
"It was an administrative classification.""
"Where is the book?""
"I don't know.""
James closed the document.
"Then we need to locate it.""
"Where is the book?""
"I don't know.""
James closed the document.
"Then we need to locate it.""
A security officer approached.
"Mr. Whitaker, we've received an update.""
Thomas turned.
"What is.""
A security officer approached.
"Mr. Whitaker, we've received an update.""
Thomas turned.
"What is it?""
"The corporate records facility reported that someone requested emergency access to the it?""
"The corporate records facility reported that someone requested emergency access to the archive approximately twenty minutes ago.""
My father frowned.
"Who requested it archive approximately twenty minutes ago.""
My father frowned.
"Who requested it?""
The officer checked his tablet.
"An individual using an executive authorization?""
The officer checked his tablet.
"An individual using an executive authorization code.""
"Whose code?""
The officer hesitated.
code.""
"Whose code?""
The officer hesitated.
Then answered.
"Mr. Richard Brooks.""
Everyone looked at myThen answered.
"Mr. Richard Brooks.""
Everyone looked at my father.
He stared at the screen.
"I've been standing here the father.
He stared at the screen.
"I've been standing here the entire time.""
James immediately checked his phone.
"Someone is using entire time.""
James immediately checked his phone.
"Someone is using your credentials again.""
Thomas looked at the security supervisor.
"Lock down the records facility. your credentials again.""
Thomas looked at the security supervisor.
"Lock down the records facility. Nobody enters without independent authorization.""
The officer nodded and hurried away Nobody enters without independent authorization.""
The officer nodded and hurried away.
I looked at my father.
"Are they trying to destroy the blue book?""
He.
I looked at my father.
"Are they trying to destroy the blue book?""
He didn't answer.
Then his phone rang.
He glanced at the screen.
His expression changed.
"That's the didn't answer.
Then his phone rang.
He glanced at the screen.
His expression changed.
"That's the records facility.""
He answered.
"Richard Brooks.""
A man's records facility.""
He answered.
"Richard Brooks.""
A man's panicked voice came through the speaker.
"Mr. Brooks, someone is already inside the archive.""
My panicked voice came through the speaker.
"Mr. Brooks, someone is already inside the archive.""
My father stood straighter.
"Who?""
"We don't know. The person presented an authorization bearing father stood straighter.
"Who?""
"We don't know. The person presented an authorization bearing your signature.""
James grabbed his laptop.
"Ask them to describe your signature.""
James grabbed his laptop.
"Ask them to describe the person.""
My father repeated the question.
The man answered.
"Male the person.""
My father repeated the question.
The man answered.
"Male. Approximately fifty. Dark suit. He says.
Approximately fifty. Dark suit. He says he's acting on behalf of the trust.""
My father closed his eyes briefly he's acting on behalf of the trust.""
My father closed his eyes briefly.
Then asked the question that made my blood run.
Then asked the question that made my blood run cold.
"Did he take the blue book?""
There was a pause.
Then cold.
"Did he take the blue book?""
There was a pause.
Then the man answered.
"Yes, sir.""
My father looked at James.
James the man answered.
"Yes, sir.""
My father looked at James.
James whispered something.
I couldn't hear him.
Then the voice on whispered something.
I couldn't hear him.
Then the voice on the phone returned.
"Mr. Brooks, there's another issue.""
"What the phone returned.
"Mr. Brooks, there's another issue.""
"What?""
"The person who removed the book left a signed instruction?""
"The person who removed the book left a signed instruction.""
My father tightened his grip on the phone.
"What instruction?""
The man read.""
My father tightened his grip on the phone.
"What instruction?""
The man read it aloud.
"Effective immediately, Danielle Evelyn Brooks is it aloud.
"Effective immediately, Danielle Evelyn Brooks is removed as the beneficiary's authorized representative.""
I looked at my removed as the beneficiary's authorized representative.""
I looked at my father.
My mother had spent her final father.
My mother had spent her final days trying to protect something she believed in.
And someone had just used a days trying to protect something she believed in.
And someone had just used a fake signature to erase me from it.
But the worst part was still coming.
The fake signature to erase me from it.
But the worst part was still coming.
The man on the phone added:
"Sir, there's a man on the phone added:
"Sir, there's a photograph attached to the instruction.""
My father frowned.
"What photograph?""
The answer came quietly photograph attached to the instruction.""
My father frowned.
"What photograph?""
The answer came quietly.
"It's a photograph of Ms. Brooks entering the airport this morning.""
May you like
.
"It's a photograph of Ms. Brooks entering the airport this morning.""