Chapter 6: The Morning It Became Real
Daniel's office was on the fourth floor of a building downtown, quiet on a Saturday morning.
His assistant had come in anyway.
She brought coffee without being asked and set it on the table without a word.
Daniel spread the documents across the conference table.
"The emergency freeze was granted at 6:14 this morning," he said.
"No property transaction tied to your address can be processed until further notice."
"Good."
"Roy called me at eight.
He's willing to give a full statement.
He's coming in at noon." Daniel tapped the deed with one finger.
"Between Betsy, Roy, and the recorder's office log, we have enough to refer this to the district attorney.
Deed fraud is a felony.
Forging a power of attorney is a separate felony.
If Fitch's fingerprints are on both documents, he's looking at disbarment and criminal exposure."
"And Teresa?"
Daniel looked at me steadily.
"She's the named beneficiary of a fraudulent deed transfer and the holder of a forged power of attorney.
The DA will decide on charges, but Connor — this is not a civil matter anymore.
This is criminal."
I had known that since the night before.
Hearing it said plainly in a quiet room on a Saturday morning made it different.
"She's my mother," I said.
Not as a defense.
Just as a fact I was still carrying.
"I know," Daniel said.
"That doesn't change what she did."
My phone rang.
Amy.
"Connor." Her voice was steady but tight.
"Teresa is here.
At the hospital."
I was already standing.
"Don't let her into the room."
"The nurse is blocking the door.
But Connor, she's making a scene.
She's telling the staff she has power of attorney and the right to make medical decisions for Frederick."
Daniel was watching me.
I put the phone on speaker.
"She's trying to use the document," I said to him.
He was already reaching for his own phone.
"I'll call the hospital's legal department directly.
She does not have valid authority.
They need to hear that from counsel." He stood.
"Keep Amy on the line.
May you like
Go."
I was out the door before he finished the sentence.
