Chapter 5: The Woman Who Claimed She Saw Me Sign
The next morning, Harper stood outside the office of a local notary named Patricia Wells.
She had barely slept.
Melissa, her attorney, had advised her not to confront anyone until they had secured copies of the official records.
But Harper needed to know one thing.
Had Patricia actually witnessed her signature?
She rang the bell.
A woman in her late fifties opened the door.
Her expression brightened.
"Harper! What a surprise.""
Patricia wore a pale blue cardigan and gold earrings. Behind her, Harper could see a dining table covered with paperwork.
"Hello, Patricia.""
"Come in, sweetheart. Your mother said you've been having a difficult time.""
Harper felt her stomach tighten.
Of course Diane had already spoken to her.
She stepped inside.
"I wanted to ask you about a document.""
Patricia gestured toward the dining room.
"Certainly. Is everything all right?""
Harper placed a copy of the quitclaim deed on the table.
Patricia glanced at it.
Her smile disappeared.
"Where did you get this?""
"It was in my mother's filing cabinet.""
Patricia adjusted her glasses.
"Ah.""
Harper waited.
"Do you remember notarizing this document?""
Patricia examined the seal.
"I notarize many documents.""
"Do you remember me signing it?""
Patricia didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she removed her glasses and folded them.
"Your mother explained that there had been some family arrangements.""
Harper felt her pulse quicken.
"That's not what I asked.""
Patricia looked uncomfortable.
"Harper, I don't want to get involved in family disagreements.""
"Did you see me sign this?""
Patricia stood and walked toward the kitchen.
"Would you like some tea?""
"No, thank you.""
"It's still early. I have a fresh pot.""
"Patricia.""
The older woman stopped.
Harper pointed at the document.
"My name is on this deed. My property is listed. I am the person supposedly transferring ownership. I need to know whether you witnessed me signing it.""
Patricia slowly turned around.
"I remember your mother bringing me some paperwork.""
"Was I there?""
"Your mother said you had agreed.""
"Was I there?""
Patricia's lips pressed together.
"I believe she brought it in already signed.""
Harper went completely still.
"Already signed?""
Patricia nodded.
"She said you'd signed it at home and only needed the notarization completed.""
Harper gripped the edge of the table.
"Did you verify my identity?""
Patricia looked down.
"I had a copy of your identification.""
"Did you see me in person?""
Patricia said nothing.
Harper took a slow breath.
"Did you notarize a signature for someone who wasn't there?""
"I don't remember every detail.""
"You just told me my mother brought the document.""
"Harper, please. Your mother is a dear friend.""
There it was.
The explanation.
Not a legal justification.
A friendship.
Harper carefully picked up the document.
"Did you record it in your notary journal?""
Patricia looked toward a cabinet.
"I would need to check.""
"Please do.""
"Not right now.""
"Why?""
Patricia's voice became defensive.
"Because I don't appreciate being questioned as if I've done something wrong.""
Harper looked at her.
"Then help me establish what happened.""
Patricia didn't move.
Harper left with no answers.
But she had enough.
When she returned to Melissa's office, her attorney listened carefully.
Then she made two calls.
One to the county recorder.
Another to a title company.
By late afternoon, they had the official property records.
Melissa turned her monitor toward Harper.
"Your mother wasn't exaggerating.""
Harper stared at the screen.
The quitclaim deed had been submitted for recording six weeks earlier.
The property record showed Evan's name as the new grantee.
Harper's hand went to her mouth.
"But the bank...""
"The bank application was separate. This deed was submitted to the county.""
Harper felt sick.
"Is Evan legally the owner now?""
Melissa shook her head.
"Not necessarily. A recorded deed can be challenged. If your signature was forged or the notarization was improper, there are legal remedies. But we need to move quickly.""
She opened another document.
"I've prepared a notice to preserve your claim and begin the process of challenging the transfer. We'll also need to notify the title insurer and the relevant authorities.""
Harper nodded.
"Do whatever you need to do.""
Melissa studied her.
"Are you certain you want to proceed against your family?""
Harper looked at the screen.
For a moment, she remembered Evan at twelve years old, sitting on the floor beside her while they built a model airplane.
She remembered buying him his first laptop.
She remembered lending him money when his car broke down.
Then she remembered his shoes on her bed.
His name on her property records.
And her forged signature.
"Yes," she said.
Melissa nodded.
"Then we'll proceed.""
At six that evening, Harper returned home.
She had intended to collect a few clothes and spend the night at a hotel.
Instead, she found Diane sitting at the kitchen table with Aunt Linda.
Evan stood near the refrigerator.
Brooke was on the sofa.
The moment Harper entered, Diane stood.
"Finally.""
Harper put her bag down.
"What's going on?""
Linda looked uncomfortable.
"Your mother wanted everyone to talk.""
Harper glanced at the table.
There were printed photographs of the house.
A handwritten list of household expenses.
And a document with a large heading:
*FAMILY PROPERTY AGREEMENT.*
Diane pushed it toward her.
"Sit down.""
Harper remained standing.
"What is this?""
"An agreement so we can stop fighting.""
Harper picked up the paper.
It stated that Harper would continue paying the mortgage and property expenses while Evan occupied the house.
It also stated that Evan would have the right to remain in the property indefinitely.
Harper read the next paragraph.
The document described Diane as the primary family decision-maker.
Harper looked up.
"Who wrote this?""
"I did," Diane said.
"You wrote a legal agreement?""
"I know how these things work.""
Harper placed it back on the table.
"I'm not signing this.""
Diane's face hardened.
"You haven't even heard me out.""
"I've heard enough.""
Evan pulled out a chair.
"Can we please stop acting like this is some huge legal battle?""
Harper looked at him.
"You have my house registered in your name.""
"Mom said it was temporary.""
"Did you know about the deed?""
Evan hesitated.
Diane answered for him.
"Of course he knew. He's the beneficiary.""
Harper turned toward her brother.
"Did you know my signature was forged?""
Evan looked down.
"I thought you had agreed.""
"When?""
"Mom said you were fine with it.""
"Did you ask me?""
Evan rubbed his face.
"You're always making everything difficult.""
Harper shook her head.
"That's not an answer.""
Aunt Linda finally spoke.
"Diane, maybe you should explain the entire arrangement.""
Diane shot her a warning look.
"There's nothing else to explain.""
But Linda reached into her handbag.
She removed a folded sheet of paper.
"I found this in the documents you left at my house.""
Diane's face changed.
"Linda, don't.""
Linda unfolded it.
It was a handwritten note.
Harper recognized Diane's handwriting immediately.
Linda placed it on the table.
"I think Harper needs to see this.""
Harper read the first line.
Once Evan is settled in the property, Harper will have no reason to challenge the transfer.
The second line was worse.
She won't want to take her own mother to court.
Harper looked up.
Diane snatched the paper.
"That was taken out of context.""
Linda shook her head.
"What context, Diane?""
"You don't understand what it's like trying to keep this family together!""
Linda's voice trembled.
"By stealing your daughter's house?""
Diane slammed her palm against the table.
"Nobody stole anything!""
Harper remained silent.
She was looking at the bottom of the note.
There was a date.
And beside it, a list of three names.
Diane.
Evan.
And a third person.
Harper recognized the name immediately.
It belonged to the mortgage broker who had handled her original home purchase.
The same man who had helped her father arrange the financing.
She looked at Diane.
"Why is Michael Carter involved?""
Diane went pale.
Evan looked up sharply.
Linda frowned.
"Who's Michael?""
Harper tapped the paper.
"He's the man who arranged my mortgage.""
Diane quickly folded the note.
"That has nothing to do with this.""
"Then why is his name here?""
"Harper, stop.""
"Did he help you transfer the deed?""
Diane turned toward Evan.
"Tell her.""
Evan looked at his mother.
Then he looked at Harper.
His voice dropped.
"Michael said there was another way to make the transfer permanent.""
Harper felt the blood drain from her face.
"What other way?""
Evan swallowed.
"He said if we could get the original mortgage documents and prove that you had agreed to the transfer, we could...""
He stopped.
Diane grabbed his arm.
"That's enough.""
Harper stared at her brother.
"Could do what?""
Evan pulled his arm free.
Then he said:
"Mom was going to have you declared financially incapable of managing the property.""
Nobody moved.
Aunt Linda covered her mouth.
Harper stared at her mother.
May you like
Diane didn't deny it.
And that frightened Harper more than anything else.
