Chapter 7 - THE NAME ON THE FORGED PAPERS|
Victoria spent the next three days moving between Nathan's office, her bank, and a temporary apartment whose address was known only to a handful of trusted people.
She did not enjoy hiding.
She had never imagined that freedom would involve checking the hallway before opening a door or wondering whether an unfamiliar car had been parked outside too long.
But she was learning that independence sometimes began with precautions that felt humiliating.
Nathan's forensic accountant finally delivered a preliminary report.
The suspicious transfers had not been random.
They formed a pattern.
Money moved from several Moretti-controlled companies into Northbridge Holdings, then through accounts associated with property purchases, consulting fees, and investments. Some transactions appeared legitimate when viewed individually.
Together, they suggested deliberate concealment.
“What does this prove?” Victoria asked.
“It establishes grounds for a much deeper investigation,” Nathan said. “But we must distinguish between suspicious transactions and proven criminal conduct.”
She appreciated his honesty.
“Can they prove I authorized anything?”
“The documents so far suggest your signature was copied. We need additional evidence about access to your accounts and the people who prepared the filings.”
Victoria looked at the report.
“Then let's find them.”
Nathan contacted the relevant financial institutions through proper legal channels. He also arranged for a specialist to examine the metadata on the documents Victoria had received.
The results revealed that several files had been created on a computer used by Richard Cole's office.
One had also been edited after Victoria supposedly signed it.
The timestamp was impossible to reconcile with the date printed on the document.
Nathan placed the report before her.
“This is important.”
“Because it proves the signature was forged?”
“Not by itself. But it shows the document may have been altered after the fact.”
Victoria studied the timestamp.
“Richard did this.”
“Possibly. We need evidence connecting him personally to the changes.”
She leaned back.
“What about Alexander?”
Nathan paused.
“We have evidence that he benefited from some of the transfers. We don't yet know which ones he knowingly approved.”
The distinction mattered.
Victoria hated Alexander for what he had done to their marriage. She was furious about the forged documents and the years of lies.
But she refused to let anger decide what the evidence meant.
“If he did it, prove it. If he didn't, prove that too.”
Nathan nodded.
“That is exactly how we should proceed.”
That afternoon, Victoria received a message from an unknown number.
You have no idea what you're dealing with. Stop digging before someone gets hurt.
She showed Nathan.
He immediately preserved the message and advised her to report the threat through appropriate channels.
“Do you think it's Richard?”
“I don't know. We shouldn't guess.”
Another message arrived.
Your husband isn't the only person who can make people disappear.
Victoria felt cold.
Nathan moved the phone away from her.
“We're not responding.”
For the first time, she wondered whether the documents represented only financial wrongdoing or something more dangerous.
That evening, Alexander appeared outside Nathan's office.
He was alone.
When the receptionist informed Victoria, she almost refused to see him.
Then she decided she would not allow fear to make every decision for her.
Nathan insisted on remaining in the room.
Alexander entered looking exhausted. His tie was crooked, and dark shadows lay beneath his eyes.
“Victoria.”
She remained seated.
“You have five minutes.”
He looked at Nathan.
“I want to speak to my wife.”
“She is my client,” Nathan replied. “You can speak in my presence.”
Alexander's jaw tightened.
Then he turned back to Victoria.
“I found something in my records.”
“About Northbridge?”
“Yes.”
“Did you authorize the transfers?”
“I don't know.”
Victoria laughed once, without humor.
“You don't know whether you used my identity to move millions of dollars?”
“I didn't say that.”
“Then say what you mean.”
Alexander placed a photocopy on the table.
It was the old handwritten authorization from his notebook.
“I don't remember creating this company,” he said. “But the handwriting is mine.”
Victoria studied the page.
At the bottom was a reference to a storage facility in Cicero.
Nathan leaned forward.
“What is stored there?”
Alexander shook his head.
“I don't know.”
Victoria looked at the document again.
For the first time, her husband's uncertainty seemed genuine.
Then she noticed a second line beneath the authorization.
Original ledger — Box 17.
May you like
And beside it, written in different ink, was a date.
Tomorrow.
