Chapter 13 - Leah’s Signature
Leah called from the treatment center at 2:30 p.m.
Her counselor remained in the room during the conversation.
I placed the phone on speaker after receiving Leah’s permission.
She sounded exhausted but clear.
“I did not create Northstar,” she said.
“Your name is on the registration,” Maya replied.
“My father had me sign papers.”
“When?”
“About eight months ago.”
“What did he say they were?”
“Admission documents for a private detox center.”
Daniel lowered his head.
Leah continued.
“I was in bad shape. Dad said the state program had a six-week waiting list, but he knew a private place that could take me immediately. He put papers in front of me.”
“Did you attend that facility?” I asked.
“For four days. Then they discharged me because the payment failed.”
“What happened after that?”
“I stayed with Dad and Mom. They told everyone I chose to leave treatment.”
Olivia sat outside the dining room with Emma. She had asked to listen but was not ready to speak to her mother again.
Maya asked Leah about her inheritance.
Leah’s grandmother had left $320,000 in a managed account. Half was intended for Leah. Half was designated for Olivia’s education and living expenses.
Gerald persuaded Leah to transfer management to a family trust.
“He told me Daniel was the trustee,” Leah said.
Daniel looked up.
“I never knew.”
“You signed something,” Leah replied bitterly.
“I sign everything he gives me.”
“That does not make me feel better.”
“No,” Daniel said. “It shouldn’t.”
Leah explained that Gerald controlled her debit cards, phone, and identification during several periods when she attempted to become sober.
Whenever she questioned the missing money, he told her she had spent it while intoxicated.
“I believed him,” she said. “There are months I barely remember.”
“Did Gerald mention Rachel’s house?” Maya asked.
“Last week. He said selling the house would solve everything.”
“How did he think he could sell it?”
“He said Daniel had rights because he was married to Rachel.”
“Did he mention forged signatures?”
Leah was silent.
“Leah?”
“He said Rachel would sign eventually.”
“Why?”
“Because he had proof that Thomas caused the apartment fire.”
My heart stopped.
“What apartment fire?”
“The one that destroyed Dad’s first company.”
My father’s video said the building had been repaired after a fire. He had investigated unsafe structural work.
Gerald apparently claimed my father caused the original fire to ruin him.
“Did you believe that?” I asked.
“I didn’t know what to believe.”
“Did Gerald show you evidence?”
“A photograph.”
“What photograph?”
“Thomas at the building the night before the fire.”
The photograph inside Unit 214 showed my father and Gerald standing beside the apartment building.
If Gerald possessed another photograph, he might use it to accuse my father.
“Did he say where the evidence was?”
“He said Thomas hid it behind the little girl on the beach.”
The Cannon Beach photograph.
It did not contain only a copy of the ledger.
It contained something connected to the fire.
Leah began crying.
“I’m sorry, Rachel. I knew Dad was planning something, but he said Olivia would lose everything if I interfered.”
“You should have called me.”
“I know.”
The family’s pattern became painfully clear.
Gerald created fear.
Then he offered obedience as the only way to prevent disaster.
Daniel obeyed to protect the marriage.
Leah obeyed to protect Olivia.
Marlene obeyed to protect the family’s reputation.
Every concession gave Gerald more power.
“Where would your father go?” Officer Brooks asked.
“He talked about Canada,” Leah said. “But Dad lies about everything.”
“Did he own another property?”
“Not that I know of.”
“What about Aaron Pike?”
Leah hesitated.
“I met him at a house near Mount Hood.”
“When?”
“Last winter.”
“Whose house?”
“I don’t know. Dad called it the lodge.”
Officer Brooks requested the address.
Leah did not remember it, but she recalled a metal gate, a stone chimney, and a wooden sign shaped like a pine tree.
During the call, another officer entered the dining room and whispered to Brooks.
Her expression changed.
“What happened?” I asked.
“Gerald was released.”
I stood.
“How?”
“The district attorney approved temporary release pending further review. The current charges involve property damage, trespass, and unlawful possession of a weapon on private property. His attorney argued that he believed he retained residency rights.”
“He broke through a window with a loaded gun.”
“He did not threaten anyone directly with it.”
“Where is he now?”
“We don’t know.”
Marlene had also been released.
Aaron Pike had not been located.
Officer Brooks advised us not to remain at the house that night.
I refused to be chased from my home again.
Maya agreed that leaving might make it easier for Gerald to recover the photograph or other evidence.
Police increased patrols near the house.
Mrs. Ellis’s cameras remained active.
Before ending the call, Leah asked to speak with Olivia.
Olivia entered the room.
For several seconds, neither mother nor daughter spoke.
Then Leah said, “I did not leave because I didn’t love you.”
Olivia closed her eyes.
“I know.”
“I’m going to finish the program.”
“You’ve said that before.”
“I know.”
Olivia’s voice trembled.
“Then don’t promise. Just do it.”
Leah began to cry again.
“I will try.”
After the call ended, Olivia rested her head against Emma’s shoulder.
The two girls sat together in silence.
My phone received an email from the title company managing the fraudulent sale.
Maya had contacted them earlier and demanded an immediate freeze.
The reply confirmed that the closing had been suspended.
The buyer had been notified.
A second email arrived less than a minute later.
It came from an unknown address.
Attached was a photograph of the red ledger resting on the hood of Gerald’s blue minivan.
May you like
The message contained one sentence.
Withdraw the fraud complaint, or the truth about your father goes public tonight.
