Chapter 16 - The Signature That Looked Perfect
The documents looked real.
That was the dangerous part.
Khloe's signature appeared at the bottom of six transfer authorizations.
Each authorized millions of dollars.
Each predated her discovery of the affair.
Each appeared notarized.
Richard denied creating them.
Vanessa denied seeing them.
Stephen Mercer refused to talk.
Voss's attorneys called them proof.
Harrison called them bait.
He hired three independent handwriting experts.
Two found subtle discrepancies.
One found something better.
The signatures were too perfect.
Every curve matched a digital sample Khloe had used years earlier for corporate filings.
Someone had copied the image electronically.
Then they printed the documents onto aged paper.
The notary seal presented a bigger problem.
It belonged to a real notary.
Diane Foster.
She disappeared two days after Voss's arrest.
Lena found her in Ohio.
Diane agreed to speak.
She admitted Stephen Mercer paid her to notarize documents without Khloe present.
"How many?"
Harrison asked.
"I don't know."
"That answer isn't good enough."
Diane looked terrified.
"Maybe twenty."
"Over how long?"
"Eighteen months."
"Did you ever see Khloe sign any of them?"
"No."
"Did Richard?"
"Sometimes."
"Voss?"
"Never."
"Stephen brought most of them."
That testimony destroyed the authenticity claim.
But Voss's attorneys were not finished.
They attacked Khloe publicly.
Anonymous articles appeared online.
One called her an unstable heiress.
Another claimed her marriage had been collapsing for years.
A third suggested the courthouse incident had been a staged confrontation designed to gain sympathy during a corporate power struggle.
Khloe read the first article.
Harrison blocked the rest from her phone.
She noticed.
"You don't control my internet."
"I'm temporarily editing reality."
"Harry."
"They're garbage."
"I know."
"Then why read them?"
"Because they're talking about me."
"They're trying to make you react."
Khloe stared at him.
"You sound like my lawyer."
"I am your lawyer."
"You're also my brother."
"Unfortunately."
She smiled.
Then grew serious.
"What if people believe it?"
"Some will."
Khloe looked surprised.
Harrison continued.
"Truth doesn't automatically win popularity contests."
"People believe what protects the story they already want."
"But court is different."
"There, we use evidence."
"And we have evidence."
Khloe nodded slowly.
The criminal trial date was set four months later.
Vanessa accepted a plea agreement.
She would testify against Richard, Stephen, and Voss.
In exchange, prosecutors would recommend a reduced sentence on the conspiracy charges.
She would still face years in prison for pushing Khloe.
Vanessa asked to meet Khloe.
Harrison said no.
Khloe said yes.
The meeting happened behind thick glass.
Vanessa picked up the phone first.
Khloe did the same.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Vanessa whispered.
"I'm sorry."
Khloe looked at her.
"You already said that to Harrison."
"I know."
"He told you to save it for me."
Vanessa nodded.
Khloe's voice stayed calm.
"Do you know what I remember most?"
Vanessa's eyes filled.
"What?"
"Not falling."
"Not the blood."
"Not the ambulance."
"I remember you looking down at me."
Vanessa began crying.
"You looked terrified."
Khloe continued.
"But Richard didn't."
Vanessa covered her mouth.
"That's when I knew."
May you like
"Knew what?"
"That whatever you were, he was worse."
