Chapter 12 - The Witness Who Changed Sides
Aunt Carol came to our house Saturday morning before sunrise.
She looked like she had not slept.
James checked the porch camera, then opened the door but did not invite her in.
“I need to talk to Claire,” she said.
“You can talk right there.”
She looked past him and saw me.
“Please.”
I stepped into the foyer.
“Did you forge my notarization?”
Her face crumpled.
That was answer enough.
“I didn’t sign your name.”
“You notarized it.”
“Susan brought it to me already signed.”
“And you certified that you watched me sign it in person.”
She started crying.
“I know.”
“On the day I gave birth.”
“I know.”
James said, “Why?”
Carol wiped her face.
“Mark told me it was temporary paperwork. He said Claire had agreed but couldn’t come because of the baby. Susan swore you knew.”
I felt no sympathy yet.
“You’re a notary. The whole point is that you verify the person.”
“I made a terrible mistake.”
“No. You made a useful mistake. For them.”
She nodded.
“I came because I have proof.”
James’s posture changed.
“What proof?”
Carol pulled out her phone.
“Mark called me last night.”
“Did you record him?”
“Yes.”
She pressed play.
Mark’s voice filled the foyer.
“You need to stick to the story. Claire authorized the signature. Susan witnessed the authorization. If anyone asks, you made a clerical error on the date.”
Carol’s recorded voice asked, “What about James?”
“He’ll be busy defending himself.”
“And the baby?”
A pause.
Then Mark said, “Lauren was stupid. But the incident can still help us.”
I closed my eyes.
There are sentences you never forget.
That became one of mine.
The incident can still help us.
My daughter screaming at Thanksgiving was an incident.
A usable event.
James’s hand settled against the small of my back.
Carol stopped the recording.
“I’ll give this to your lawyer. And the police. Whoever.”
“Why now?” I asked.
She looked at me.
“Because last night Mark told me if I changed my story, he’d tell the state I falsified notarizations before.”
“Did you?”
Her silence lasted too long.
My stomach sank.
“How many?”
“Three.”
James swore under his breath.
Carol shook her head quickly.
“Not for him. Not all for him. I was stupid. Family members. People I trusted.”
“So Mark owns you.”
“He thought he did.”
Her phone rang.
She looked at the screen.
Mark.
James said, “Answer it.”
Carol went pale.
“Put it on speaker,” he added.
She did.
Mark didn’t say hello.
“Where are you?”
Carol looked at me.
“At home.”
“No, you’re not.”
Everyone froze.
Mark continued.
“I’m looking at your driveway.”
Carol’s face drained.
Then he said, “Tell Claire to check hers.”
James was already moving.
He crossed to the front window and pulled the curtain aside.
A black SUV was parked across the street.
Its engine was running.
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