Chapter 5 - THE SECOND SIGNATURE
The detectives returned before sunrise.
Daniel handed them the forged transfer document.
One detective studied the signature.
"Is this yours?"
"It looks like mine."
"But?"
"I didn't sign it."
The transfer would place Daniel's shares into a trust controlled by Claire if he became incapacitated.
Not dead.
Incapacitated.
The distinction terrified him.
Sarah read the page.
"Daniel, this isn't about divorce."
"I know."
"It's about control."
Daniel looked toward the kitchen where Sophie was coloring quietly.
For the first time, Claire's cruelty toward Sophie seemed connected to something larger.
Not just punishment.
Not just jealousy.
Pressure.
Daniel crouched beside Sophie.
"Sweetheart, did Claire ever ask you to do things with Daddy's papers?"
Sophie stopped coloring.
Her fingers tightened around the crayon.
Sarah sat beside her.
"You're not in trouble."
Sophie whispered.
"She made me practice."
Daniel felt cold.
"Practice what?"
"My name."
"Why?"
Sophie looked frightened.
"She said I might need to sign something if you got sick."
Daniel stood.
The detective's expression hardened.
"Mr. Vance, we need every document Claire had access to."
They spent the morning searching.
Behind a false panel in Claire's desk, they found copies of Daniel's medical records.
His medications.
His insurance documents.
Sophie's birth certificate.
Sarah's old psychiatric evaluation from the custody dispute.
And a list of dates.
Daniel recognized several.
They were nights he had become mysteriously sick during dinner.
Nausea.
Dizziness.
Confusion.
Claire had always blamed stress.
The detective circled one date.
"Did you go to the hospital this night?"
"Yes."
"What happened?"
"They said I was dehydrated."
"Any toxicology screening?"
"No."
Sarah's face changed.
"Daniel."
He knew what she was thinking.
He did not want to say it.
The detective did.
"We need to consider whether someone was trying to make you appear medically unstable."
Daniel stared at the list.
The final date was two weeks away.
Beside it, Claire had written one word.
Board.
Vance Biomedical had a board meeting scheduled that day.
A vote would determine whether Daniel approved the acquisition.
If he missed it while medically incapacitated, his proxy could vote.
His proxy was Claire.
Daniel suddenly understood why she had wanted access to his shares.
His phone rang.
It was his business partner, Marcus Hale.
Daniel answered.
"Marcus?"
Marcus sounded breathless.
"Daniel, I need you to listen carefully."
"What's wrong?"
"I just found something in the company records."
"What?"
"Claire has been communicating with our buyer."
Daniel stopped breathing.
"For how long?"
"At least seven months."
Daniel looked at the forged agreement.
Marcus continued.
"And Daniel?"
May you like
"Yes?"
"They think Claire already controls your vote."
