I knew exactly where I had been that day.
At my obstetrician’s office.
Then at Mom’s house.
Then home.
The notary named on the document claimed the signing occurred at a small
office across town.
My medical appointment timestamp did not automatically prove I could
never have gone there later.
But it gave investigators a timeline.
Then the notary’s journal created a larger problem.
There was no entry under my name.
The notary seal number on the document also appeared inconsistent with
current registration information.
Again, none of that alone convicted Charles.
Together, it justified deeper scrutiny.
Samantha’s firm preserved the original files and referred the suspected
forgery through appropriate channels.
PART 8 — COURTNEY CALLS
Four days after Maggie was born, Courtney called me from an unknown
number.
I almost hung up.
“Please don’t.”
Her voice was shaking.
“I didn’t know he was going to hurt you.”
“You laughed.”
Silence.
“I know.”
I said nothing.
Then she told me Charles had promised the house would be his once Mom
died.
He told her I would receive “more money than I knew what to do with” and
that he was entitled to half.
“He said you already signed paperwork.”
