Chapter 3 - The Signature That Wasn't Hers.
Emily took Sophie into the master bedroom and locked the door behind them.
Daniel remained in the hallway, pleading through the wood.
"Emily, please let me explain before you make this worse."
She stared at the forged signature again.
"You already made it worse."
Sophie sat on the edge of the bed holding Emily's hand with both of hers.
Emily called Rebecca.
The attorney answered on the second ring.
"You are home early."
Emily froze.
Rebecca had not asked why she was calling.
"How did you know I was supposed to be away?"
Silence.
Then Rebecca said, "Daniel mentioned your trip."
Emily looked at the document.
"Did you review a temporary family authorization giving Margaret control over Sophie?"
Rebecca inhaled slowly.
"Where did you get that?"
"Answer me."
"I reviewed a draft."
Emily's pulse hammered.
"Did you see my signature?"
"No."
"Did you tell Daniel it was legal?"
"Only if you signed voluntarily."
Emily closed her eyes.
Rebecca continued quickly.
"Emily, if there is a signed copy with your name on it, do not destroy it."
"Why?"
"Because it may be evidence."
Daniel knocked again.
"Please."
Emily lowered her voice.
"Rebecca, did Margaret ever contact you directly?"
Another pause.
"Twice."
"About what?"
"Your schedule, your travel, and whether extended absence could justify temporary guardianship."
Emily stared at the bedroom door.
"And you did not tell me?"
Rebecca's voice tightened.
"I told her no, and I assumed that ended it."
"That assumption put my daughter in a closet."
Rebecca went silent.
Emily ended the call.
Sophie leaned against her side.
"Are you mad at Aunt Rebecca?"
"I am mad at a lot of adults right now."
"Are you mad at Daddy?"
Emily looked toward the door.
"Yes."
Sophie lowered her eyes.
"He cries in the garage sometimes."
Emily felt a new chill.
"When?"
"After Grandma talks to him."
"What do they talk about?"
Sophie shrugged.
"Money."
Emily thought of Daniel's construction company, the one he had insisted was finally profitable.
Their joint checking account looked normal.
Their savings account did not.
Emily had never heard of it.
She searched the company name.
The registered manager was Margaret Carter.
Emily stood so fast that Sophie startled.
"Sorry, sweetheart."
She forced herself to slow down.
"Stay here for one minute."
"Don't leave me."
The plea broke something inside her.
Emily sat back down immediately.
"I won't."
Nora arrived looking frightened.
Emily had employed her for six years.
"Nora, did you know about the closet?"
Tears filled Nora's eyes.
"Mrs. Carter told me I would be fired if I interfered."
"Which Mrs. Carter?"
Nora looked ashamed.
"Margaret."
Emily's voice hardened.
"This is my house."
"She said it wasn't anymore."
Daniel stopped knocking outside.
Emily heard him whisper something to his mother.
"I kept this because I knew one day you would ask."
Emily took it.
"What does it open?"
Nora looked toward the bedroom wall.
"The desk in Daniel's office."
Emily waited.
Nora swallowed.
"The drawer he told me never to clean."
Sophie gripped Emily's sleeve again.
Emily realized the money, the authorization, and the locked closet were not separate betrayals.
They were pieces of the same plan.
Outside, Daniel suddenly raised his voice.
"Mom, where is the red folder?"
Margaret answered too quietly to hear.
Then footsteps hurried toward the stairs.
Emily looked at Nora.
"Take Sophie into the bathroom and lock the door."
Sophie began to protest.
Emily kissed her forehead.
"I am going twenty feet away, and Nora is staying with you."
Then Emily unlocked the bedroom door.
May you like
Daniel was already running downstairs.
She followed him.
