Chapter 6 - The Signature
Daniel reached the hospital before Olivia could finish the paperwork.
He found her at the nurses' station holding a clipboard.
"Put it down."
Olivia turned. "Daniel--"
"Put it down."
"I'm trying to help your mother," she said.
"By becoming the person who decides what happens to her while she's unconscious?"
"We discussed this months ago."
"No, you didn't."
Olivia lowered her voice. "You are emotional. Somebody has to be practical."
Daniel snatched the copy from the clipboard.
There it was: Margaret Anne Mercer, printed neatly. A signature underneath.
"You forged this."
"I did not."
"Her M looks like two mountains. This looks like yours."
Olivia's eyes flashed. "You sound insane."
"And the trust money? Is that insane too?"
She went pale.
"I borrowed it," she said.
"Two hundred twelve thousand dollars?"
"I was fixing something."
"What?"
"It doesn't matter now."
"It matters to me."
A nurse stepped between them. "Sir, you need to lower your voice."
Ortiz arrived moments later with another officer.
Olivia stared at Daniel. "You called the police on your wife?"
"No. Ethan told the truth about his mother. There's a difference."
Ortiz informed Olivia she was not under arrest yet, but she was not allowed to make medical decisions for Margaret.
Olivia laughed once, bitter and low.
"Fine. Let Daniel do it. He's always done exactly what his mother tells him."
She walked toward the elevator.
Before the doors closed, she looked at Daniel.
"You should ask your perfect mother why your dad changed his will three weeks before he died."
Daniel stepped forward.
The doors shut.
He turned to Ortiz. "What is she talking about?"
Ortiz's phone rang.
She listened, then looked at him.
"The bank just confirmed the key we found belongs to a safe-deposit box."
"My mother's?"
"No."
May you like
Ortiz held his gaze.
"It's in Olivia's name."
