Chapter 9 - The Witness
The betrayal had come from a place I never thought to look.
The name on the witness line was Linda Mercer.
My sister's best friend.
She had known my family for twenty years.
She had attended Trent's graduation.
She had stood beside me at my wife's funeral.
And she had signed the document claiming she witnessed an amendment that never happened.
“I don't understand,” I said.
Calder looked exhausted.
“She says she signed it.”
“She witnessed me signing?”
“Yes.”
“I never did.”
“She insists.”
“Then she's lying.”
Calder nodded.
“That is what we're trying to establish.”
I stared at the paper.
The handwriting in the amendment wasn't mine.
The signature was close.
Too close.
But the witness signature was unmistakable.
Linda's.
“Why would she do this?”
“Money?”
“She doesn't need money.”
“Fear?”
“Of Richard?”
“Maybe.”
I picked up my phone.
I called her.
She answered after one ring.
“Kent.”
“Did you sign this?”
Silence.
“Linda?”
“Yes.”
“Did you witness me signing?”
Another pause.
“Yes.”
I closed my eyes.
“You're lying.”
She began crying.
“I'm sorry.”
“What did he threaten you with?”
“I didn't know what else to do.”
“Who?”
“Richard.”
“How?”
“He told me my son would lose his job.”
“That isn't enough to fabricate a deed.”
“He had evidence against him.”
“What kind?”
She didn't answer.
“Linda.”
“I can't.”
“You already did.”
She sobbed.
“I was wrong.”
“What did Richard make you sign?”
“A statement.”
“About what?”
“About you.”
I stood.
“What statement?”
“That you were planning to sell Brentwood to Trent.”
“Why?”
“So the amendment wouldn't look suspicious.”
I rubbed my face.
“This goes beyond my son.”
“Yes.”
“How far?”
Her voice became barely audible.
“Richard had been preparing for this for over a year.”
I looked at Calder.
“What else?”
“He wanted the property transferred before Evan returned.”
I froze.
“So he knew Evan was coming back?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“I don't know.”
I ended the call.
Calder was already searching through documents.
“We need to establish a timeline.”
“Do it.”
He nodded.
Then he stopped.
“Kent.”
“What?”
“There's another witness.”
“Who?”
He turned the screen toward me.
The name hit me harder than Linda's.
Trent.
My son had signed a statement claiming he was present when I agreed to transfer the house.
“He lied under oath?”
“Not oath.”
“Still a false statement.”
“Yes.”
I stared at the screen.
“What do we do now?”
Calder leaned back.
“We let him choose.”
“Choose what?”
“Whether he tells the truth before we expose him.”
I found Trent at his office.
He looked stunned when I walked in.
“Dad.”
I put the paperwork on his desk.
His face went white.
“What's this?”
“You tell me.”
He read it.
His hands began shaking.
“I didn't know.”
“You signed it.”
“My father gave it to me.”
“You signed it.”
“I thought it was temporary.”
“You didn't think to ask me?”
He looked at me.
“I was afraid.”
“Of who?”
“My father.”
“Not enough to stop you.”
He sat down.
“I know.”
“You lied about the house.”
“Yes.”
“You lied about the transfer.”
“Yes.”
“You watched them forge my signature.”
He looked up sharply.
“I didn't know they forged it.”
“You knew my name was being used.”
“Yes.”
“That was enough.”
He lowered his head.
“I'll fix it.”
“You can't.”
“I can.”
“How?”
“I'll tell the truth.”
“When?”
“Today.”
I studied him.
For the first time in years, he looked like my little boy again.
Scared.
Lost.
Ashamed.
But there was still something missing.
“Where is Madison?”
He didn't answer.
“Trent.”
“She went to my father's office.”
“Why?”
“I don't know.”
“You do.”
He stared at me.
“I think she's going to confront him.”
“Alone?”
“Yes.”
I grabbed the paperwork.
“What are you waiting for?”
Trent stood.
“Dad, where are you going?”
“To bring your wife home.”
He followed me.
On the way down the stairs, his phone rang.
He answered.
I heard only his side.
“What?”
Silence.
“What do you mean she's gone?”
He stopped walking.
His face drained.
“Who took her?”
He looked at me.
May you like
Then whispered:
“My father says if I want Madison back, I have to bring you to Brentwood.”
