Chapter 5: The Signature That Changed Everything
Two police officers stood in the living room.
One was speaking to Vanessa.
The other was examining a document on the coffee table.
I descended the stairs with Helena and my father behind me.
Vanessa immediately pointed at me.
"That's her! She's the one causing all this!""
The taller officer turned.
"Are you Nia Carter?""
"Yes.""
"I'm Detective James. We received a report concerning possible document fraud and the unauthorized removal of property.""
Vanessa laughed.
"Document fraud? This is absurd.""
Helena stepped forward.
"I'm Helena Brooks. I can provide the relevant company records and the original estate documents.""
The detective nodded.
"That would be helpful.""
Vanessa folded her arms.
"Those documents are private.""
"Then you should have kept them properly.""
The officer's response made Maya look away.
I glanced toward the coffee table.
Several papers were scattered across it.
One was an official notice from the competition.
Another appeared to be a bank statement.
I recognized the business name.
Carter Luxury Events.
My stomach tightened.
"What's happening?"" I asked.
Detective James looked at me.
"Your stepmother is suspected of transferring assets connected to a deceased person's estate without proper authorization.""
Vanessa stepped forward.
"That's a lie.""
Helena opened her folder.
"Then you won't mind explaining these transactions.""
She placed several documents on the table.
One showed a payment of $18,500 from an account connected to Evelyn Carter Designs.
Another showed a payment of $12,000.
A third showed a transfer of $25,000 to a private account.
I stared at the numbers.
"Where did that money come from?""
Helena answered quietly.
"Your mother's company royalties.""
I felt sick.
My mother had designed clothes for years.
She had created patterns that were sold through small boutiques and independent retailers.
I had never known that those designs continued earning money after her death.
"How much?"" I whispered.
Helena looked at the statements.
"At least $55,500 in the transactions we've identified so far.""
Vanessa slammed her palm onto the table.
"That money was used to maintain the business!""
"Then where are the business expenses?"" Helena asked.
Vanessa didn't answer.
Detective James picked up one statement.
"Mrs. Carter, can you explain why these transfers were made to a personal account?""
"They were reimbursements.""
"For what?""
"Business expenses.""
"Do you have receipts?""
Vanessa looked at my father.
"Richard, tell them.""
Dad stood motionless.
"Richard!""
He looked at the floor.
"I don't know.""
Vanessa's face twisted.
"You signed the documents!""
The room fell silent.
I stared at my father.
"What documents?""
Vanessa immediately looked toward the officers.
"I didn't mean—"
Dad finally spoke.
"I signed the estate management papers because you told me they were temporary.""
Vanessa shook her head.
"That's not what happened.""
"You said the company needed someone to manage it while Nia was underage.""
"And it did!""
"You told me everything belonged to the family.""
"It does!""
Helena interrupted.
"Actually, the company was established under Evelyn's name, with Nia designated as the primary beneficiary.""
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
"She's twenty-three. She doesn't know anything about running a business.""
I stepped forward.
"That doesn't mean you get to steal it.""
Vanessa pointed at me.
"You have no idea what I've sacrificed for this family.""
I looked at her diamond bracelet.
Then at the expensive furniture.
Then at the framed photographs of vacations and charity events.
"Did you sacrifice the money from Mom's designs?""
Her mouth opened.
No words came out.
Maya appeared at the top of the stairs.
"Mom?""
Vanessa turned.
"Go upstairs!""
Maya didn't move.
She looked at the documents.
Then at me.
"Is it true?""
Nobody answered.
She came down slowly.
"Mom, you said the money came from Dad's investments.""
Vanessa snapped.
"Not now, Maya.""
Maya looked at me.
"Did you know about the company?""
"No.""
"Did you know she used your mother's designs?""
"No.""
Maya's eyes filled with tears.
She looked at her own silver dress.
For the first time, she seemed to understand what she'd been wearing.
"Mom," she whispered, "where did you get my dress?""
Vanessa's expression hardened.
"From a supplier.""
"Which supplier?""
"Enough!""
Maya stepped backward.
"You told me you paid a designer.""
I looked at her.
"Did you know the designs were mine?""
She shook her head.
"I thought Mom had bought them.""
The room went quiet.
I wanted to believe her.
But I remembered the video.
I remembered her standing beside Vanessa in my garage, laughing while my mother’s notebook sat open between them.
I couldn't pretend that didn't matter.
Detective James closed the folder.
"Mrs. Carter, we need you to accompany us to the station for further questioning.""
Vanessa stared at him.
"You're arresting me?""
"At this stage, we're requesting that you come in voluntarily.""
She looked at my father.
"Richard, do something!""
He didn't move.
Then she turned toward me.
"This is your fault.""
I held her gaze.
"No. This started when you decided my mother's work belonged to you.""
Her face twisted.
"You think you're going to run that company? You can't even afford your own apartment!""
I looked at the detective.
"Can she leave?""
"Not yet. We need to finish collecting the documents.""
Vanessa's eyes narrowed.
Then she did something I hadn't expected.
She laughed.
A short, bitter laugh.
"You really think you've won, Nia?""
I frowned.
"What are you talking about?""
She leaned toward me.
"Your mother left more than a little sewing business. There was an agreement. A very important agreement.""
Helena stiffened.
"What agreement?""
Vanessa smiled.
"The one that says the company cannot pass to Nia unless she proves she can create an original collection without outside help.""
I stared at her.
"That's ridiculous.""
"Ask your father.""
I turned.
Dad looked as though someone had punched him.
"Is that true?""
He closed his eyes.
"Your mother included a condition in her will.""
Helena shook her head.
"I remember the original agreement. That isn't how I understood it.""
Vanessa lifted her chin.
"Then perhaps you should read the amended version.""
She reached into her purse and removed a folded document.
Detective James took it.
He examined the page.
Then his expression changed.
"This document is dated six months ago.""
I stared at the date.
Six months ago.
Just before I entered the competition.
The signature at the bottom was supposed to belong to my mother.
But that was impossible.
She had been dead for nine years.
Helena took the document.
Her hands trembled.
"This is not Evelyn's signature.""
Vanessa's smile disappeared.
Helena looked at my father.
"Richard, who prepared this amendment?""
He swallowed.
Then he whispered four words.
"Your mother's old attorney.""
Helena went pale.
"That man has been dead for three years.""
Nobody moved.
Detective James slowly placed the document into an evidence folder.
And for the first time, Vanessa looked genuinely frightened.
But the greatest shock was still waiting.
Because when Helena examined the document's witness section, she found a second signature.
May you like
One that belonged to someone standing in that very room.
*My father.*
