Chapter 12 - The Woman With the Notary SealPaige Larkin worked from a modest office above a tax preparation business.
She was forty-six, professionally dressed, and visibly uncomfortable when Mara Keene arrived with Claire.
Mara introduced herself.
"We're reviewing an easement recorded on August 28. Your acknowledgment appears on the document."
Paige glanced at the copy.
"I handle a lot of documents."
"Of course. We wanted to ask about this particular notarization."
Paige read the signature page.
Her expression tightened.
"Whitmore."
"Yes."
"Is there a problem?"
Claire spoke.
"I didn't sign it."
Paige looked up.
For a moment, all three women remained silent.
Then Paige said, "I'm afraid you'll need to take that up with the people who prepared the document."
Mara kept her voice professional.
"We're asking whether you personally witnessed Claire sign on August 27, as your acknowledgment states."
Paige looked at Claire again.
"I would need to review my records."
"That's reasonable."
"I don't have them here."
Mara glanced toward a filing cabinet behind the desk.
"Then perhaps you can provide a written response after you've reviewed them."
Paige folded her arms.
"I don't appreciate being accused of misconduct."
"No accusation has been made," Mara said. "We're trying to establish what happened."
Claire leaned forward.
"That land belongs to a trust for my daughter. Somebody used my name to authorize construction access. I need to understand how."
Paige's eyes flickered.
"I didn't know it involved a child."
The sentence hung in the room.
Mara noticed immediately.
"What did you understand the document involved?"
Paige stood.
"I think this meeting is over."
Outside, Claire exhaled sharply.
"She knows."
"Possibly," Mara replied. "But suspicion isn't evidence. We'll seek the relevant records through formal legal procedures."
As they walked toward the parking lot, Claire's phone rang.
It was Daniel.
"I need to talk to you," he said.
She glanced at Mara.
"About what?"
"The reserve money. And Graham."
They agreed to meet that evening at Claire's house after Chloe went to bed.
When Daniel arrived, he looked as though he had aged several years.
Claire led him into the kitchen.
They sat opposite each other at the small wooden table where Chloe usually ate breakfast.
Daniel placed the bank records between them.
He explained the transfers.
The loan guarantee.
The personal exposure.
The possibility that the Whitmore house could be lost.
Claire listened quietly.
When he finished, she asked, "How much did you know?"
"Less than I should have."
"That's not the same as nothing."
"I know."
She examined the guarantee.
"You signed this."
"Yes."
"Without understanding it."
"Yes."
Claire looked down.
"I used to think the worst thing about your mother was that she never respected boundaries."
Daniel gave a bitter laugh.
"Now?"
"Now I'm wondering whether she taught you that signatures, promises, and property belong to whoever can make the strongest argument."
He winced.
She regretted the cruelty but not the truth beneath it.
After a moment, Daniel said, "I want to talk to Chloe."
"Not about what happened on the dock."
"About how she's feeling."
Claire considered this.
"Okay."
They went upstairs.
Chloe was awake, arranging stuffed animals around her pillow.
Her face brightened when she saw him.
"Daddy."
Daniel sat beside her bed.
He touched the edge of her blanket.
"I heard you've been having bad dreams."
She nodded.
"I'm sorry you were so scared."
Chloe considered him seriously.
"Did you stop being mad at Oliver?"
Daniel swallowed.
"I'm trying to understand what happened."
"He didn't make the boat move."
Daniel looked toward Claire.
She remained silent.
He turned back.
"I hear you."
Chloe studied his face.
"Are you going to hit him again?"
The question struck harder than any accusation Claire could have made.
"No," Daniel said. "Never."
Chloe reached for his hand.
"Good."
Downstairs, Daniel stopped beside the kitchen window.
"I don't know how to fix this."
Claire joined him.
"Then stop trying to protect the story you told yourself. Start dealing with what actually happened."
As Daniel prepared to leave, Mara called.
Claire answered.
The attorney's tone was controlled but urgent.
"Paige Larkin just contacted my office."
Claire straightened.
"What did she say?"
"She wants to speak with her own attorney before making a formal statement."
"About the signature?"
"About who brought the document to her."
Claire gripped the phone.
May you like
Mara continued.
"She says she remembers the day because Eleanor Whitmore was present."
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