Curtis’s face lost color.
Daniel said, “Dad wanted me to handle things.”
“Your father had been dead for almost two months.”
“I meant before.”
“The notary listed on that document was Melissa Crane.”
Judge Mercer looked at the page.
I continued.
“Melissa Crane lost her notary commission eighteen months before the document was supposedly executed.”
Daniel turned toward Curtis.
Curtis did not look back.
“And yesterday morning,” I said, “Ms. Crane gave a sworn statement confirming she never notarized this document.”
Daniel stood.
“This is insane!”
The deputy moved immediately.
Judge Mercer’s voice hardened.
“Sit down.”
Daniel pointed at me.
“She’s manipulating everything! This is what she does! She twists numbers and makes people look guilty!”
I almost smiled.
Twenty-six years earlier, one of the Bellweather executives
had shouted almost the same thing.
Numbers don’t twist.
People do.
Judge Mercer waited until Daniel sat.
Then he turned to me.
“Continue.”
“The forged power of attorney was used three times.”
Vanessa looked at Daniel again.
“What?”
He whispered, “Not now.”
I heard him.
So did everyone near us.
“The first attempt was to access my investment account. It failed. The second was a request for information regarding my life insurance policies. That succeeded.”
I let the room absorb that.
“The third was submitted to a real estate broker.”
Judge Mercer frowned.
“For what purpose?”
“To prepare my house for sale.”
Vanessa began shaking her head.
“No. No, he told me Eleanor agreed to move.”
Daniel whispered, “Shut up.”
Every eye turned toward them.
Vanessa stared at her husband.
“What did you say?”
“Nothing.”
“You said she agreed to the condo.”
Judge Mercer spoke.
“Mrs. Vance?”
I answered him.I never agreed to sell my home.”
Daniel’s voice rose.
“You can’t live there forever!”
And there it was.
Not concern.
Not confusion.
Ownership.
He had already decided my house was his future property.
I looked at Judge Mercer.Find Legal Help
“My home is currently valued at approximately 1.8 million dollars.”
Even Curtis turned toward Daniel at that number.
“The savings and brokerage accounts they sought access to total approximately 2.4 million.”
Vanessa’s lips parted.
That surprised her too.
Daniel had apparently lied to everyone.
Different lies.
Different numbers.
Different promises.
I almost felt sorry for Curtis.
Almost.
Judge Mercer asked, “Why did you not report this earlier?”
“Because I wanted to know how far it went.”
Daniel laughed bitterly.
