Chapter 5 - THE SIGNATURE
The proxy extension was clever because it was not a full forgery.
My real signature existed.
The original twelve-month proxy:
Rachel Mercer.
Blue ink.
Witnessed.
The extension:
Same signature image.
Digitally embedded.
Different resolution.
Different page.
Somebody copied my genuine signature.
What made the fraud harder to detect?
First Mountain received an email from an address almost identical to mine.
My real business address:
Missing “ing.”
I had never noticed the fake domain existed.
The message said:
I’m comfortable extending Charles’s voting authority while Nina remains a minor. Please spare me recurring governance meetings unless required.
It sounded like me.
Because for the first year after Daniel died, I said similar things.
I did not want governance meetings.
I wanted my husband.
The fake email weaponized my grief.
First Mountain’s former relationship manager accepted the extension.
Weak verification.
No callback.
No video confirmation.
That would matter later.
The bank had failed too.
But who created the email?
Not yet known.
Charles denied it.
Sylvia denied knowing anything.
Monique said:
May you like
“I assumed Dad had authority.”
Maybe.
