Chapter 6 - Brooke’s Signature

Brooke started crying before I said a word.

“I didn’t know,” she said.

Ryan cursed under his breath.

I looked at her. “Your name is on the affidavit.”

“I notarized something, but I swear I didn’t read it.”

Martin’s expression hardened. “You are a commissioned notary. Reading what you notarize is generally part of the idea.”

“I thought it was a family trust form.”

Grant snapped, “Stop talking.”

Brooke flinched.

That reaction was small, but I saw it.

So did Martin.

“Who gave you the document?” I asked.

Brooke looked at her father.

Ryan cut in. “This is ridiculous. Brooke made a mistake.”

“No,” I said. “You made a plan.”

Diane stood abruptly. “I want to go home.”

Grant turned on her. “Sit down.”

She stared at him.

For the first time that night, she didn’t obey.

“I said I want to go home.”

Grant lowered his voice. “Diane.”

“No. You told me the papers were about refinancing. You told me Claire knew.”

He stepped closer.

She stepped back.

The whole family was coming apart in front of me, and somehow I felt nothing except clarity.

Martin touched my elbow. “Claire, we need to preserve the security footage right now.”

I nodded.

We went to the console.

Ryan moved toward us.

The security officer blocked him.

I entered my administrator credentials through the mobile recovery app. The screen unlocked.

Ninety days of archived footage.

I searched tonight first.

There we were.

Grant approaching me.

Ryan taking my wrists.

Diane at the table.

Brooke holding her phone.

No sound. But the images were enough to make my throat tighten.

Martin said quietly, “Download everything.”

I started the export.

Then I noticed another folder.

MANUAL CLIPS.

Twenty-seven videos.

Someone had been saving selected footage from inside my home.

The oldest clip was dated four months earlier.

I opened it.

Ryan and Grant stood in my study.

Grant was holding my company seal.

Ryan was holding a folder marked ESTATE PLAN.

Then Grant looked directly toward the hidden camera and said something.

No sound.

But I could read his lips.

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