Chapter 14 - The NotaryHer name was Paige Reynolds.
Twenty-nine years old.
Office manager at North Ridge.
Colorado notary public.
And, according to the document, she had watched me sign a limited power of attorney on November fifteenth in Denver.
On November fifteenth, I had been in Santa Fe visiting my sister.
Grace obtained hotel receipts, airline records, and photographs within an hour.
“This one is easy to disprove,” she said.
“That does not make it less disturbing.”
“No.”
The power of attorney granted Daniel authority to request financial information and negotiate—but not execute—transactions involving my interest.
Carefully limited.
Almost sophisticated.
Enough to obtain documents.
Not enough to transfer property.
Whoever designed the scheme understood that a broad fake power of attorney would invite scrutiny.
A narrow one could slip through.
Bryce had relied on it.
Meridian had relied on it.
Marcus had not seen it.
That explained how far things had progressed.
“Can Paige go to jail?” Daniel asked.
We were in Grace’s temporary office in the residence.
“She could face criminal consequences if she knowingly notarized a false signature,” Grace said.
Daniel looked sick.
“I know her.”
“I assumed.”
“She has a two-year-old.”
Grace’s expression hardened.
“And your mother is eighty-one. Victims and perpetrators both have families.”
Daniel lowered his eyes.
I called Paige.
Grace advised against it.
I did anyway, with Grace recording after Paige consented.
She answered on the third ring.
“Mrs. Caldwell?”
“You know who I am.”
Silence.
“Yes.”
“Did you notarize a document bearing my signature?”
More silence.
“I’m sorry.”
Not denial.
Grace leaned closer to the phone.
“Paige, this is Grace Holloway, counsel for Mrs. Caldwell. You should understand you may want independent legal representation.”
Paige began crying.
“I didn’t know it was going to be used like that.”
I closed my eyes.
“Used like what?”
“Madison said you had already signed it.”
“I had not.”
“She said you forgot to have it notarized.”
“That is impossible.”
“I know now.”
Grace interrupted.
“Did you witness Mrs. Caldwell sign?”
“No.”
“Then why did you certify that you did?”
Paige cried harder.
“Madison said it was family paperwork.”
“Did Daniel know?”
The room became still.
Paige hesitated.
Daniel stared at the phone.
“Paige.”
His voice shook.
“Did I know?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did Madison ever say I knew?”
“She said Daniel was handling his mother.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
Not enough.
Grace continued.
“What did you receive in exchange?”
“Nothing.”
“Think carefully.”
“My Christmas bonus.”
“How much?”
“Five thousand.”
Daniel whispered a curse.
Paige began pleading.
“I thought it was just fixing paperwork.”
Grace gave her contact information and told her to retain counsel and preserve every communication.
Then the call ended.
Daniel sat motionless.
I looked at him.
“What does ‘handling your mother’ mean?”
“I don’t know.”
“Try.”
He rubbed both hands over his face.
“Madison kept saying you were impossible to discuss money with.”
“So?”
“She said I should let her handle the legal side.”
“And you agreed.”
“Yes.”
“Did you know about a power of attorney?”
“No.”
I believed him.
Again, belief did not absolve him.
It simply divided responsibility more accurately.
Daniel had opened doors.
Madison walked through them.
“Where is she?” Grace asked.
Daniel checked his phone.
“She won’t answer.”
Marcus entered.
“Elaine.”
His face was tense.
“What now?”
“Madison checked out.”
Daniel stood.
“What?”
“Her luggage is gone.”
“And Lily?”
“With the children’s program.”
Relief.
“Car?”
“Gone.”
Daniel called Madison.
Voicemail.
Again.
Voicemail.
He started pacing.
“She wouldn’t leave Lily.”
“No,” I said.
“She plans to come back.”
“How do you know?”
“Because she left the one thing she actually cares about.”
Daniel stared at me.
“That’s cruel.”
“I meant leverage.”
He recoiled.
Perhaps I was cruel.
Anger had sharpened me.
I disliked the edge.
“Call your in-laws,” I said.
Daniel did.
Carol answered.
No Madison.
Richard had not heard from her.
Then Grace’s phone rang.
Bryce.
She listened for less than a minute.
Her expression changed.
“Are you certain?”
Pause.
“All right. Send it.”
She ended the call.
“What?”
Grace looked at me.
“Madison contacted Summit Crest forty minutes ago.”
Daniel stopped moving.
“What did she want?”
“To offer them a different deal.”
“What deal?”
Grace’s eyes met mine.
“She claims she has evidence Daniel masterminded everything.”
Daniel went white.
“And?”
“She offered to provide it if Summit Crest gave her more time on the debt.”
He stared at us.
“What evidence?”
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Grace’s answer came quietly.
“Recorded conversations.”
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