Chapter 16 - No More Way Around It
Friday morning began with another betrayal.
Rebecca disappeared.
Her lawyers could not reach her.
Her phone was off.
The cooperation agreement had not been signed.
The laptop remained in evidence, but Rebecca’s testimony was suddenly uncertain.
Maya called Daniel.
“Do not assume Caleb took her.”
“I wasn’t.”
“You were.”
Daniel admitted nothing.
Police located Rebecca six hours later.
She was at her Manhattan condo.
Alive.
Terrified.
Caleb had sent her copies of private messages showing her involvement in transactions unrelated to Mercer.
Tax problems.
False invoices.
A separate client dispute.
He was threatening to bury her under additional exposure if she testified.
Rebecca told prosecutors she wanted out.
Maya said, “She may still testify under subpoena, but a frightened witness is unpredictable.”
Then the forensic-signature expert delivered the breakthrough.
The durable power of attorney and voting proxy had both been produced using an identical digital signature image.
Pixel for pixel.
A genuine handwritten signature would contain natural variations.
These did not.
The signature image originated from a school tuition authorization Daniel signed two years earlier.
Nora had scanned that document.
Rebecca had access to the file.
Metadata placed the copied image on her laptop.
The supposed power of attorney was forged.
But the old delegation agreement remained genuine.
The Friday hearing began at 2:00 P.M.
Caleb testified.
Daniel had never heard him lie under oath before.
It was astonishing how natural he sounded.
“Yes, Daniel authorized me to act.”
“Yes, he knew about Bellweather generally.”
“No, I had no role in removing Emily from her father.”
“Yes, Rebecca and I had a relationship years ago.”
“No, it did not continue.”
Maya’s co-counsel presented the metadata.
Caleb called it incomplete.
The notary, Elise Benton, testified next.
Her hands shook.
“I did not see Daniel Mercer sign the power of attorney.”
“Why did you notarize it?”
“Mr. Rusk said Mr. Mercer had signed it in California and needed it recognized immediately.”
“You knew that was improper.”
“Yes.”
“Were you paid?”
Elise cried.
“Yes.”
“How much?”
“Twenty-five thousand dollars.”
Caleb stared at the table.
Then Nora testified.
She admitted the money.
The false assumptions.
Her witness signature.
Everything.
Caleb’s lawyer attacked her credibility mercilessly.
“You lied to Mr. Mercer.”
“Yes.”
“You took money.”
“Yes.”
“You participated in processing questionable transfers.”
“Yes.”
“And now you want immunity.”
“I want to tell the truth.”
“Because it helps you.”
Nora looked toward Emily’s empty seat—Daniel had refused to bring her.
“No. Because I packed a seven-year-old’s suitcase while she thought her father didn’t want her anymore.”
The courtroom became silent.
The judge ruled late Friday.
The forged proxy and power of attorney could not be used.
Daniel’s voting rights remained his.
Caleb’s corporate path to control collapsed.
Outside, Maya almost smiled.
“You won the critical issue.”
Daniel shook his head.
“Not finished.”
He was right.
Caleb still owned seven percent.
Baycrest still had investors.
The merger vote remained Monday.
And then Rebecca called Daniel herself.
Her voice was barely audible.
“I have the original Baycrest ledger.”
Daniel stopped.
“Where?”
“Caleb’s private office.”
“Then give the location to prosecutors.”
“He moved it.”
“Where?”
“The old East Harbor sales office.”
Daniel felt a chill.
The building was scheduled for demolition in two days.
Rebecca continued.
“The ledger proves the money started before Claire got sick.”
“Tell Detective Torres.”
“I did.”
“Then why call me?”
Rebecca began crying.
“Because there’s a page about Claire.”
Daniel’s chest tightened.
“What page?”
“A payment request with her name on it.”
“For what?”
“I don’t know.”
Rebecca whispered the final words.
“But Caleb has spent three years making sure you never see it.”
May you like
The court fight had ended.
The real confrontation could no longer be avoided.
