Chapter 9: The Brother Who Knew More
Darnell stared at the screen.
"Corey?""
Simone leaned closer.
The document appeared to confirm that she had agreed to the property arrangement.
Corey's name was written beneath hers as a witness.
But there was something else.
The date.
It was the same afternoon Corey had driven Beverly to the bank.
Simone remembered that day.
She had been working at the diner when Corey announced he needed the car.
Beverly had told everyone she was meeting a supplier.
Now the pieces were falling into place.
"Does Corey know about this?"" Simone asked.
Mr. Harris looked at the document.
"His signature is here. Whether he understood what he was witnessing is another question.""
Darnell stood.
"We need to talk to him.""
Mr. Harris raised a hand.
"Before you do, I recommend that you don't accuse him of anything. Ask him what happened. And preserve any messages or records he has.""
Darnell nodded.
They left the office and drove straight to the diner.
Corey was behind the counter, counting the cash from the previous night's sales.
He looked up when they entered.
"What's wrong?""
Darnell placed a copy of the authorization form in front of him.
"Explain this.""
Corey glanced at it.
His expression changed.
"Where did you get that?""
"From the lawyer.""
Corey looked at Simone.
Then at the signature.
"I don't understand.""
"Your name is on it," Darnell said.
"I know.""
"Did you witness Simone signing this?""
Corey swallowed.
"No.""
"Then why is your signature here?""
Corey put down the cash.
"I don't know.""
Simone pulled out a chair.
"Corey, please. Just tell us what happened that day.""
He rubbed his forehead.
"Mom asked me to drive her to the bank.""
"And?""
"She said she needed someone to witness a document.""
"Whose document?""
"Yours.""
Simone's heart began beating faster.
"Mine?""
Corey nodded.
"She said you had already agreed to something. She told me you were too busy working to come in.""
Darnell's voice tightened.
"Did you see Simone sign it?""
"No.""
"Then what did you witness?""
Corey looked down.
"Mom had a document with your name on it. She said you had signed it earlier.""
Simone stared at him.
"And you signed as a witness?""
Corey nodded.
"She said it was just confirming that she had shown me the paperwork.""
Darnell shook his head.
"That's not what this document says.""
Corey picked it up.
He read the heading.
His face went pale.
"I didn't know it was an authorization.""
Simone sat back.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because Mom said it was family business.""
"You knew my name was being used.""
"I thought you had agreed!""
"How could I agree to something I had never seen?""
Corey looked toward the kitchen.
"I don't know.""
Darnell took a slow breath.
"Did Mom pay you?""
Corey immediately looked up.
"What?""
"Did she give you money?""
Corey hesitated.
Simone noticed.
"Corey?""
He looked at his sister.
Then he whispered, "She gave me five thousand dollars.""
Darnell closed his eyes.
"Why?""
Corey rubbed his hands together.
"I had debts.""
"What debts?"" Simone asked.
"Credit cards. Some money I owed friends. I was behind on payments.""
Darnell stared at him.
"And you accepted money from your mother without asking where it came from?""
"She said it was hers!""
Simone stood.
"Corey, do you understand what this means?""
He looked at her.
"I didn't know she was stealing.""
"I'm not saying you stole anything. I'm asking why you didn't question it.""
Corey's eyes filled with tears.
"Because I wanted the money.""
The honesty of the answer silenced everyone.
He sat down heavily.
"She told me she was selling part of the business. She said Dad knew. She said you were going to move out anyway.""
Simone looked at him.
"She told you I was leaving?""
"Yes.""
"When?""
"Months ago.""
Darnell looked confused.
"Why would she say that?""
Corey hesitated.
"Because she said you were planning to give the diner to Simone when you retired.""
Simone frowned.
"What?""
Corey nodded.
"Mom said you wanted to make her the manager and give her control of the business. She said it wasn't fair because I was your son too.""
Darnell stared at him.
"Who told you that?""
"Mom.""
Darnell shook his head.
"I never said that.""
Corey looked down.
"She said you had been discussing it with the accountant.""
Simone felt sick.
Her mother had created an entirely different story for each person.
To Darnell, she was supposedly protecting the business.
To Simone, she was supposedly protecting the family.
To Corey, she was supposedly protecting his inheritance.
And all the while, she had been negotiating with Marcus.
"Did Marcus know you were signing as a witness?"" Simone asked.
Corey nodded.
"He was there.""
Darnell stepped forward.
"What?""
"At the bank. He met us in the parking lot afterward.""
"Did he speak to you?""
Corey nodded again.
"He told me I was doing the right thing.""
Simone looked at her father.
This was no longer simply a disagreement between two people.
Marcus had been present.
He had seen Corey sign.
And he knew Simone wasn't there.
Darnell took out his phone.
"We need to tell Mr. Harris.""
Corey reached for his father's sleeve.
"Please don't.""
Darnell looked at him.
"Son, this is serious.""
"I know.""
"Then why are you asking me not to tell the lawyer?""
Corey swallowed.
"Because there's something else.""
Simone felt her stomach tighten.
"What else?""
Corey reached into his jacket and removed a small envelope.
He placed it on the counter.
"I kept this because I thought Mom might need it later.""
Darnell opened it.
Inside was a bank receipt and a handwritten note.
The receipt showed a payment of five thousand dollars.
The sender was Marcus Holdings LLC.
The recipient was Corey Carter.
Darnell stared at the receipt.
"You told us your mother gave you this money.""
Corey looked down.
"She said it was a gift.""
Simone picked up the note.
There were three lines written in Beverly's handwriting.
Payment for assistance with the documentation.
Do not discuss the arrangement with Darnell.
Keep Simone away from the bank until closing.
Simone read the last sentence twice.
Keep Simone away from the bank.
She slowly lowered the note.
Corey began crying.
"I didn't know she was going to forge your signature. I swear.""
Simone looked at him.
"Why didn't you give us this earlier?""
"Because I was scared.""
"Of Mom?""
"Of losing everything.""
Darnell pulled out a chair.
For a long moment, he looked at his son.
Then he said quietly, "You should have come to me.""
Corey nodded.
"I know.""
Darnell took photographs of the receipt and note.
Then he called Mr. Harris.
Within minutes, the lawyer asked them to bring the original documents to his office.
But before they could leave, Simone's phone rang.
It was Rachel from the medical office.
"Hello?""
"Hi, Simone. I hope I'm not catching you at a bad time.""
"No, it's fine.""
"I wanted to follow up on your interview.""
Simone glanced at the papers on the counter.
"Of course.""
Rachel continued.
"We were very impressed with you. We'd like to offer you the position.""
Simone froze.
For the first time that week, something good had happened.
"Really?""
"Yes. The salary is what we discussed, and we'd like you to start next Monday if you're available.""
Simone smiled.
"Yes. Absolutely.""
"Wonderful. I'll send the offer letter this afternoon.""
When the call ended, Darnell stood and hugged her.
"Congratulations, sweetheart.""
Corey managed a small smile.
"That's great, Simone.""
She nodded.
But before she could say anything else, the front door opened.
Marcus Reed walked into the diner.
He was wearing a charcoal suit and carrying a leather briefcase.
His eyes moved across the room.
Then he looked at the documents on the counter.
He didn't look surprised.
"Good morning," he said.
Darnell stepped forward.
"You have some nerve coming in here.""
Marcus placed his briefcase on table six.
"I believe we have a business matter to discuss.""
"There is no business matter. The sale is on hold.""
Marcus adjusted his cuff.
"Temporarily.""
Simone moved beside her father.
"Did you know my signature was forged?""
Marcus looked at her.
Then he smiled faintly.
"That's a serious accusation.""
"Did you?""
He opened his briefcase.
"I have documentation showing that your family agreed to the arrangement.""
Corey stepped forward.
"I never saw Simone sign anything.""
Marcus looked at him.
"You witnessed the authorization.""
"I witnessed a blank page with her name on it.""
The smile disappeared from Marcus's face.
Darnell stared at his son.
Marcus closed the briefcase.
"Perhaps we should have this conversation somewhere private.""
"No," Darnell said.
"You can explain it right here.""
Marcus looked around the empty diner.
Then he leaned closer to Darnell.
"You're making this much more difficult than it needs to be.""
Darnell didn't move.
Marcus lowered his voice.
"You should be careful. Your wife has already signed an agreement that gives me the right to take this property.""
Simone stepped forward.
"And you think a forged signature makes that agreement legitimate?""
Marcus looked directly at her.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he reached into his briefcase and removed one final document.
He placed it on the counter.
"This is why you should read the entire agreement before making accusations.""
Simone looked down.
At the bottom of the page was a clause neither she nor her father had seen before.
It stated that if the property transfer failed, Marcus could pursue repayment of the original financing against the guarantor.
Darnell read the name.
His face went white.
Because the guarantor wasn't Beverly.
It wasn't Darnell.
May you like
It was Simone.
And beneath her name was a signature that looked exactly like hers.
