Chapter 3 - Her Signature
Emily stared at her uncle.
“I never approved anything.”
“I know.”
Raymond placed a thin folder on the table beside her bed.
Emily looked at it but did not touch it.
“What is that?”
“Copies.”
“Of what?”
“Three authorization forms.”
He opened the folder.
Emily saw her name immediately.
EMILY CLAIRE WHITMORE.
The signature beneath it looked almost perfect.
Almost.
She knew the difference because she always curled the final stroke of the E slightly beneath the line.
This signature did not.
Her stomach tightened.
“That isn’t mine.”
Raymond nodded.
“The first authorization moved four million dollars from a reserve account belonging to a Saint Claire women’s health fund.”
Emily looked up sharply.
“The maternity fund?”
“Yes.”
Her voice became quieter.
“What did Preston use it for?”
“We don’t know yet.”
Raymond turned the page.
“The second document pledged future hospital management revenue as collateral.”
“For what?”
“A private loan.”
“To whom?”
“We’re tracing it.”
Emily looked at the third page.
Her forged signature appeared again.
This one authorized a proxy.
She read the first paragraph twice.
Then a third time.
Her skin went cold.
“This gives Preston voting authority over my trust interest.”
“It would.”
“If it were real.”
“Yes.”
Emily stared at the paper.
“When was it filed?”
“Eleven days ago.”
The room felt suddenly smaller.
Eleven days ago, Preston had brought her breakfast in bed.
He had kissed her forehead.
He had asked whether the baby was kicking.
He had told her he wanted them to start over.
Emily had almost believed him.
“Did you know about Vanessa?”
Raymond’s expression changed.
“I suspected.”
“How long?”
“I knew Preston had been spending time with her for several months.”
Emily looked away.
Pain rose behind her ribs that had nothing to do with the kick.
“You could have told me.”
“Yes.”
“But you didn’t.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because suspicion is not proof.”
Emily turned back toward him.
“And forged documents were?”
“That’s why I started the audit.”
Before she could respond, someone knocked.
A hospital attorney entered with a security officer.
The attorney introduced herself as Sarah Mills.
“We have a problem.”
Raymond turned.
“What happened?”
“Ms. Cross has retained counsel.”
Emily almost smiled.
“That was fast.”
Sarah did not.
“She’s claiming Emily threatened her.”
Raymond’s expression remained unchanged.
“We have video.”
“She says the video will show Emily approached her first.”
Emily spoke.
“I walked toward the elevator.”
Sarah nodded.
“I believe you.”
“Then why is this a problem?”
“Because Preston gave a statement supporting Vanessa.”
Emily felt the room go still.
Sarah continued carefully.
“He told security you were emotionally unstable, jealous, and verbally aggressive before the incident.”
Emily stared at the wall.
There it was.
Not just betrayal.
Preparation.
Preston had not frozen when Vanessa kicked her.
He had already decided whose version he would support.
Sarah placed another sheet on the table.
“There’s more.”
Emily looked down.
It was an internal hospital note entered fourteen minutes before her appointment.
PATIENT ACCESS CONCERN.
Her name appeared beneath it.
The instruction requested additional security presence because Emily Whitmore might become disruptive.
Emily slowly raised her eyes.
“Who filed this?”
May you like
Sarah answered.
“Preston.”
