Chapter 4 - Claire’s Signature
The signature looked like hers.
Not approximately.
Exactly.
Claire Elizabeth Hale.
She compared it to her driver’s license.
Same long C.
Same narrow H.
Same upward finish.
“I didn't sign this.”
Rebecca believed her.
Thomas did not say whether he did.
The Northstar account opened using Claire’s identity documentation.
Passport copy.
Social Security verification.
College address.
All genuine.
Someone had access to everything.
Family did.
Then Claire discovered the opening date.
December 27, 2017.
Two days after Christmas.
She remembered that Christmas.
Madison had convinced everyone to take a family trip to Aspen.
Claire stayed home with Grandpa because Arthur was recovering from pneumonia.
One afternoon Arthur asked her to sign several insurance forms.
Could one have been slipped among them?
Possible.
Claire felt betrayed.
By Arthur?
Maybe.
Rebecca stopped her.
“Arthur suspected the same thing.”
Then why not confess?
Because Arthur insisted he had never placed a Northstar document before Claire.
Someone used forms she legitimately signed to create a digital signature template.
Who?
The forensic report could not determine.
Then Claire’s phone filled with calls.
Robert.
Diane.
Madison.
She ignored them.
One call she answered.
Ethan Cole.
Madison’s boyfriend.
“Claire?”
“What?”
“I need to see you.”
“Why?”
“Because Madison lied about tonight.”
“About the engagement?”
Silence.
“There wasn't supposed to be an engagement.”
Claire frowned.
“What?”
Ethan said Madison had been pressuring him to propose publicly at Christmas.
He refused.
Then Robert unexpectedly called Ethan that morning and told him to come anyway.
Why?
Robert wanted Ethan present for an announcement about Hale Manufacturing.
Madison interpreted it as succession.
But Ethan claimed Robert planned something completely different.
“What?”
“I don't know.”
Then Ethan lowered his voice.
“But your father asked me yesterday whether I knew how much debt Madison had.”
Claire went still.
Madison lived extravagantly.
Designer clothes.
Mercedes.
Trips.
Restaurants.
Claire assumed Robert subsidized her.
Apparently not.
“How much?”
Ethan hesitated.
“Almost nine hundred thousand.”
Claire thought she misheard.
Credit.
Personal loans.
Private lenders.
Business guarantees.
How?
Madison had invested in something.
A luxury wellness startup called Vela House.
Founder:
Sabrina Cross.
Claire searched the name.
Nothing significant.
Then Rebecca saw it.
“Cross?”
“What?”
Northstar Strategic Holdings’ final registered agent before dissolution:
Daniel Cross.
Same surname.
Could be coincidence.
Or not.
Claire called Robert.
He answered immediately.
“Bring the box home.”
“No.”
“Claire—”
“Did Madison take the Northstar money?”
Silence.
Then Robert said:
“Who told you about Northstar?”
“Grandpa.”
“Arthur is dead.”
“His paperwork isn't.”
Robert breathed heavily.
“Listen to me. Do not accuse your sister.”
“That sounded almost protective.”
“It isn't.”
“Then what is it?”
Fear.
Claire could hear it.
Robert finally said:
“Northstar is why your grandfather and I stopped speaking.”
“Because you stole from him?”
“No.”
“Because you covered for someone?”
“Yes.”
“Madison?”
Robert paused.
Then:
“No.”
“Mom?”
Another silence.
“Dad?”
“Claire, your mother cannot know you've opened the box.”
Claire felt the room tilt.
“Why?”
Robert whispered:
“Because Diane believes Arthur destroyed the Northstar records.”
Then the line disconnected.
Claire turned toward Rebecca.
Her mother had lied about the cedar box.
About the bank.
Possibly about millions.
But before Claire could decide what to do, Thomas placed another document in front of her.
A life insurance policy.
Insured:
Arthur Hale.
Original beneficiary:
Hale Family Foundation.
Changed in 2018.
New beneficiary:
Northstar Strategic Holdings.
Death benefit:
May you like
$25 million.
Someone had turned the mysterious company into the beneficiary of Grandpa’s death.
