I handed over another document.
“Two weeks later, someone created a durable financial power of attorney naming Daniel as my agent.”
Curtis’s face lost color.
Daniel said, “Dad wanted me to handle things.”
“Your father had been dead for almost two months.”
“I meant before.”
“The notary listed on that document was Melissa Crane.”
Judge Mercer looked at the page.
I continued.
“Melissa Crane lost her notary commission eighteen months before the document was supposedly executed.”
Daniel turned toward Curtis.
Curtis did not look back.
“And yesterday morning,” I said, “Ms. Crane gave a sworn statement confirming she never notarized this document.”
Daniel stood.
“This is insane!”
The deputy moved immediately.
Judge Mercer’s voice hardened.
“Sit down.”
Daniel pointed at me.
“She’s manipulating everything! This is what she does! She twists numbers and makes people look guilty!”
I almost smiled.
Twenty-six years earlier, one of the Bellweather executives had shouted almost the same thing.
Numbers don’t twist.
People do.
Judge Mercer waited until Daniel sat.
Then he turned to me.
“Continue.”
“The forged power of attorney was used three times.”
Vanessa looked at Daniel again.
“What?”
He whispered, “Not now.”
I heard him.
