Chapter 10 - A Dead Man's Vote

The amendment carried Dad's signature, a notarized acknowledgment, and a date seven months after his death. Whoever prepared it had counted on nobody checking the dates.

"This can't be real," Talia said.

"It isn't," Margaret replied. "But a fraudulent document can still create damage until a court says so."

Brooks called the county recorder's office and requested certified copies. She also asked the custodian to identify everyone with access to the original trust documents. We sat in the laundry room while machines thudded around us and watched the first tenants return from work.

One of them, Mrs. Alvarez, stopped beside me. "Your father promised these apartments would stay homes," she said. "Was he lying?"

"No," I said. "I think someone is lying about him."

At noon the court issued a temporary order blocking transfer and demolition pending a hearing. The tenants cheered in the courtyard. I couldn't join them completely. Temporary meant temporary. Grant still controlled the hotel, and Wren Capital still had money for lawyers.

Grant called before I could tell anyone.

"You embarrassed yourself in front of the city's most important people," he said.

"You let your mother injure Ruth."

"You'll need to stop repeating that."

"And you tried to sell forty-eight homes with forged paperwork."

"You know what your problem is? You think being right means you'll win."

"I think being right means I can sleep."

He laughed softly. "Then enjoy tonight. Tomorrow I file for divorce and ask the court to restrict your access to our shared accounts."

"Do it."

His voice dropped. "You have no idea what your father kept from you."

I didn't answer. He had used that line before, always when he was losing an argument.

But that evening Margaret arrived with a certified bank record. It showed a payment from the foundation to an account in my name. The payment was enormous, and I had never seen a dollar of it.

"Grant will say you took the money," she warned.

"How can he?"

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"Because the account was opened with your identification."

THE NIGHT SHE TURNED THE TABLES |