Chapter 10 - The Signature That Shouldn't Exist
For three years, I had blamed fate for taking my wife.
Now I was staring at a document suggesting my own mother had authorized the decision that preceded her death.
"That's impossible," I whispered.
Patricia Collins lowered her eyes.
"Mr. Romano, I watched Dr. Shaw receive that order. She told the staff there had been a consultation with your family."
"My mother wasn't authorized to make medical decisions for Claire."
"I understand."
"Then why is her signature there?"
Patricia hesitated.
"That's why I kept the copy."
My attorney, Daniel Brooks, examined the document carefully.
"Adrian, don't assume the signature is genuine."
I looked at him.
"What?"
"Your mother's signature could have been copied. We need an independent forensic examination, the original medical records, and testimony from everyone involved."
I wanted answers immediately.
Instead, I forced myself to listen.
Claire deserved the truth, not another dangerous mistake made in anger.
That evening, I returned home and found Margaret sitting alone in the garden.
She stood when she saw the document.
"Oh, God."
"Have you seen this before?"
Her eyes filled.
"No."
"Look at the signature."
She examined it for several seconds.
Then her expression changed.
"This isn't mine."
"It looks identical."
"Because Richard had my signature."
My stomach tightened.
"The medical authorization?"
Margaret nodded.
"He insisted on keeping a copy. Said the hospital required it."
I stared at her.
"You gave a criminal access to Claire's medical records, and you never questioned what else he might do?"
"I was foolish, Adrian. Terribly foolish."
She covered her mouth.
"But I never would have hurt Claire."
For the first time, I saw something beyond guilt in my mother's eyes.
Absolute terror.
Then Margaret whispered something unexpected.
"Your father discovered the forged authorization before he died."
"How?"
"He hired a document examiner. Vincent kept the report in his private safe."
"Where is the safe?"
"In the old family office downtown."
I called Marcus.
Within an hour, we recovered the report.
The examiner had concluded that Margaret's signature on the medical document was likely a reproduction rather than an original handwritten signature.
There was another page.
A letter from Vincent.
If Adrian discovers this, tell him I tried to make it right. I secured the original hospital evidence and gave it to the only person I believed Richard couldn't reach.
No name followed.
Only an address.
Grace looked over my shoulder.
Her face suddenly lost its color.
"Adrian," she whispered. "I know that address."
"Whose house is it?"
She swallowed.
"Claire's younger sister."
I turned toward her.
"Claire didn't have a sister."
Grace's eyes filled with tears.
"She did."
May you like
Then she said the words that shattered another part of my past.
"And Adrian, your wife wasn't the only Whitfield woman who disappeared three years ago."
