Chapter 3: The Name Nobody Expected
Christopher's lawyer, a compact man named Daniel Reyes who wore his suits slightly too large, arrived at the shopping center forty minutes later carrying a leather folder and a tablet.
He sat across from Alison at a food court table, spread the photograph of the contract flat on the screen, and zoomed in without a word.
"The notary stamp," he said.
"Do you recognize this office?"
Alison leaned in.
The stamp was small but clear.
Riverside Notary Services.
West Allis.
"No."
"I do," Christopher said quietly.
Daniel looked up.
"It's the office my company uses for property transactions," Christopher said.
"I've been there four times in the last two years."
Alison stared at him.
"How would Gregory even know that?"
Christopher didn't answer immediately.
He set his phone face-down on the table.
A slow, deliberate movement.
"Because someone told him," he said.
Mrs.
Catherine, who had been sitting with Abigail three tables away, walked over.
She had sent Abigail to look at a toy display near the entrance.
"I need to say something," Mrs.
Catherine said.
Everyone looked at her.
"Six weeks ago, Gregory asked me about the deed.
He said he was trying to help Alison organize her paperwork.
He asked whether her name was the only one on the title." She paused.
"I told him yes.
I told him Christopher had waived all property rights in the divorce settlement."
The table went quiet.
"Mom," Alison said carefully.
"Did he ask anything else?"
"He asked whether you had ever had the deed notarized after the divorce was finalized.
I said I didn't know." Mrs.
Catherine's hands tightened around the strap of her bag.
"I thought he was being helpful.
I thought he was being a good partner."
Daniel was already typing notes.
"That explains how he knew which office to use and what documentation to reference," he said.
"He had enough information to make the forgery look credible."
"But he still needed someone to actually forge it," Christopher said.
Daniel nodded slowly.
"The notary stamp is real.
Which means someone at that office processed this."
Alison's phone buzzed on the table.
Gregory again.
She turned the screen so Daniel could see it.
"Don't answer," Daniel said.
The buzzing stopped.
Then a text arrived.
*I know you're with Christopher.
I know what you're doing.
Before you do something you can't undo, you should ask your friend Renata what she did for me last month.*
Alison read it twice.
Renata.
Her closest friend since college.
The woman who had held her hand through the divorce.
Who had helped her move into the downtown apartment.
Who had been to that apartment more times than anyone except Mrs.
Catherine.
"Who is Renata?" Daniel asked.
Alison's voice came out smaller than she intended.
"She's my best friend."
Nobody said anything.
Abigail appeared at the edge of the table, holding a small stuffed bear from the toy display.
She looked at her mother's face and put the bear down on the table without a word.
Daniel closed his folder.
"I need you to call Renata," he said.
"Right now.
Don't tell her what we know.
Just ask her to meet you."
Alison picked up her phone.
May you like
Her hands were completely steady.
That frightened her more than anything else had all day.
