Chapter 4: The Signature of a Dead Man
For almost a full minute, nobody spoke.
I stared at the document lying on Evelyn Brooks's conference table.
At the bottom was a signature that supposedly belonged to Michael Bennett, my father's former engineering partner.
Beside it was another signature.
Olivia Parker.
The woman whose education I had financed. The woman I had planned to marry. The woman who had stood beside Alexander Whitmore while he called me an old hometown friend.
She had witnessed a document transferring my father's invention to the company that employed her.
And she had signed it eleven months earlier.
"Is this real?"" I finally asked.
Evelyn folded her hands.
"The electronic filing is real. Whether the document itself is authentic is another question.""
"Michael Bennett died six years ago.""
"I understand.""
"Then how could he sign something eleven months ago?""
"Someone may have forged his signature, used an earlier authorization, or submitted a document containing false information. We need the original records.""
Richard leaned forward.
"Can we establish whether Olivia knew Michael was deceased?""
Evelyn nodded.
"That's important. But we shouldn't assume she was responsible for the document simply because her signature appears as a witness.""
I rubbed my face.
"She worked with Alexander. She had access to the patent records. She knew exactly what she was signing.""
"Daniel," Richard said gently, "I know you're angry. But we need to separate what we know from what we suspect.""
I looked at the document again.
"What we know is that someone used my father's invention, someone tried to buy it for almost nothing, and Olivia witnessed a document signed by a dead man.""
Evelyn didn't disagree.
She opened her laptop.
"I've requested the original filing history and supporting documents. We should also examine the financial relationship between Parker Research Consulting and Whitmore Technologies.""
Richard nodded.
"That eighteen-thousand-five-hundred-dollar transfer could be relevant.""
I remembered the payment.
Fourteen months earlier, Olivia had called me crying.
She had said her university research equipment had been delayed because the supplier required immediate payment.
I had been working late at the transportation company's garage when she called.
"Daniel, I'm so sorry to ask again.""
I had been underneath a delivery truck, replacing a damaged transmission.
"What's wrong, sweetheart?""
"The equipment supplier won't release the sensors until the invoice is paid.""
"How much?""
She had hesitated.
"Eighteen thousand five hundred.""
I remembered wiping grease from my fingers and looking at the balance in my bank account.
It contained nearly everything I had saved from several months of overtime.
"Send me the invoice," I had said.
"Are you sure?""
"Of course.""
She had started crying.
"You're the only person who believes in me.""
That night, I had transferred the money.
Now I wondered whether she had ever purchased the equipment at all.
"Can we trace the payment?"" I asked.
Richard nodded.
"We can request the relevant records through appropriate legal channels. If the payment went toward a commercial transaction involving Whitmore, that would be significant.""
Evelyn closed the folder.
"There's another thing I want to examine. Your father's original notebooks.""
"I know where they are.""
"Then we need to recover them.""
I leaned back.
"They're in that old cabinet at the research center.""
Richard checked his watch.
"I'll contact the property manager and arrange another visit.""
But before he could reach for his phone, mine began vibrating.
Olivia.
I stared at her name.
Then I answered.
"Hello?""
"Daniel, we need to meet.""
Her voice was different.
No irritation. No impatience.
She sounded frightened.
"About what?""
"About the document.""
I looked at Richard.
"What document?""
She hesitated.
"The one you saw today.""
I stood.
"How did you know I saw it?""
"Alexander told me.""
"Then why don't you ask him to explain it?""
"Because I don't trust what he's telling me anymore.""
Those words made me pause.
"Where do you want to meet?""
"Somewhere private.""
"Why?""
"Because I think we're both in danger.""
The call ended.
Richard shook his head.
"Daniel, don't meet her alone.""
"I'm not planning to.""
He looked at Evelyn.
She nodded.
"We can arrange a recorded legal interview through counsel. But if she's willing to provide information voluntarily, we should hear what she has to say.""
Two hours later, Olivia arrived at Richard's office.
She wore a long beige coat and dark sunglasses.
Her hair was tied back, but several strands had escaped around her face.
She looked tired.
Very tired.
When she saw me, she stopped near the doorway.
For a moment, I remembered the young woman in the Ohio coffee shop.
The one who used to fall asleep over research papers.
The one who had laughed when I told her she was my problem.
Then I remembered the graduation ceremony.
The roses on the bench.
The way she had called me an old friend.
I felt nothing but exhaustion.
Richard invited her to sit.
Evelyn introduced herself and explained that she would be taking notes.
Olivia removed her sunglasses.
"Daniel, I didn't know Michael Bennett was dead.""
I stared at her.
"How could you not know?""
"Alexander told me Michael had been part of the original research team. He said the patent ownership had been settled years ago.""
"Then why did you sign as a witness?""
She looked down at her hands.
"Because Alexander asked me to.""
"Did you see Michael sign the document?""
"No.""
"Did you meet him?""
"No.""
"Did you verify his identity?""
She shook her head.
"Alexander said the paperwork had already been reviewed by the legal department.""
I laughed bitterly.
"So you signed a document witnessing the signature of a man you had never met.""
"I know how it sounds.""
"Do you?""
Her eyes filled.
"Daniel, I was trying to protect my position.""
I leaned forward.
"By helping them take my father's invention?""
She began crying.
"I didn't understand what was happening.""
Evelyn interrupted calmly.
"Dr. Parker, when did you first become aware of Robert Carter's patent?""
Olivia wiped her cheeks.
"About eighteen months ago.""
"Who informed you?""
"Alexander.""
"What did he tell you?""
"He said Whitmore Technologies had acquired the rights to an old diagnostic system and wanted me to help modernize the research.""
"Did he identify Robert Carter as the inventor?""
"Eventually.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"Eventually?""
Olivia looked at me.
"He showed me a photograph of your father.""
I stared at her.
"You knew?""
She nodded slowly.
"I recognized him.""
"Did you tell Alexander that I was his son?""
"Yes.""
"And what did he say?""
She looked away.
"He said it was fortunate that I knew you.""
A cold feeling spread through my body.
"Fortunate?""
"He asked me whether you still had any of your father's notebooks.""
I gripped the edge of the table.
"What did you tell him?""
"I said I didn't know.""
"That was a lie.""
She lowered her head.
"Yes.""
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then Evelyn asked another question.
"What happened to the original notebooks?""
Olivia swallowed.
"Alexander wanted to locate them. He believed they contained technical information that wasn't included in the patent.""
I felt my heartbeat accelerate.
"Did you tell him where they were?""
"No.""
"Olivia.""
"I didn't tell him!""
Her voice broke.
"I swear, Daniel.""
Richard leaned forward.
"Then how did the company obtain the technical drawings?""
She closed her eyes.
"Someone photographed them.""
"Who?""
"I don't know.""
"Where?""
Olivia hesitated.
Then she whispered, "At your father's old shop.""
I stood so quickly that my chair scraped backward.
"They were in the cabinet?""
She nodded.
"Alexander had the original room inspected before the research center opened. He said he wanted to preserve the historical materials.""
"Preserve them?""
"That's what he told me.""
I walked toward the window.
My father's notebooks were not just documents.
They contained years of experiments, calculations, and mistakes.
Some of the ideas had never been included in the patent.
If Whitmore had photographed them, they might have obtained information that no public filing could reveal.
I turned around.
"Where are the notebooks now?""
Olivia looked frightened.
"I don't know.""
"Did you see them?""
She nodded.
"About three months ago.""
"Where?""
"In Alexander's private office.""
I returned to my chair.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
She began sobbing.
"Because I was afraid.""
"Of what?""
"Of losing everything.""
I looked at her for a long moment.
Then I asked the question I had been avoiding.
"Did you ever intend to marry me?""
She covered her mouth.
"Daniel...""
"Just answer.""
She shook her head.
"I don't know.""
I nodded slowly.
That answer hurt less than it had at graduation.
Perhaps because I had finally stopped expecting a different one.
Evelyn closed her notebook.
"Dr. Parker, there is something else. Your company, Parker Research Consulting, received several payments from Whitmore Technologies. Do you know what those payments were for?""
Olivia's face went white.
"How much?""
"We're still reviewing the records.""
She looked at me.
"Daniel, I can explain.""
"Then explain.""
She took a deep breath.
"Alexander created the consulting company for me. He said it would allow the research department to pay independent contractors without involving the university.""
"Did you perform consulting work?""
"Some.""
"How much?""
"I don't know exactly.""
"Did you receive the eighteen thousand five hundred dollars I sent you?""
She nodded.
"Yes.""
"Where did it go?""
She stared at the table.
"To the company.""
"And then?""
She started crying again.
"Alexander asked me to transfer it.""
"To whom?""
She opened her handbag and removed a folded piece of paper.
"I have something.""
She pushed it toward Evelyn.
It was a printed bank transaction.
The eighteen-thousand-five-hundred-dollar payment had been transferred from Parker Research Consulting to an account belonging to Whitmore Industrial Holdings.
The date was the same day Olivia had told me she needed to purchase university equipment.
I stared at the paper.
She had used my money to finance the company that was exploiting my father's invention.
"Why?"" I whispered.
Olivia's voice was barely audible.
"Alexander told me it was temporary. He said the company would reimburse the money once the research project received its funding.""
I looked at her.
"Did you know the money came from me?""
"Yes.""
"Did you know I had sold my father's business to pay for your education?""
"Yes.""
"Then why?""
She broke down completely.
"I wanted to belong somewhere, Daniel. I was tired of worrying about rent. I was tired of feeling like I had to apologize for not having enough money. Alexander made me feel important.""
I looked at her expensive coat.
Her watch.
The gold necklace.
Then I looked at the woman who once sat in a coffee shop worrying about tuition.
"Did he promise to marry you?""
She didn't answer.
She didn't need to.
Richard gathered the documents.
"Olivia, we'll need to verify everything you've told us. If you have additional records, preserve them. Do not alter or delete anything.""
She nodded.
As she stood, she turned toward me.
"Daniel, I know you hate me.""
I didn't respond.
"I never wanted you to get hurt.""
I looked at her.
"Then you should have stopped hurting me.""
She lowered her head and walked out.
A few seconds later, my phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number.
Daniel Carter, you have been warned to stop investigating Whitmore Technologies.
Another message followed.
Your father made the same mistake.
I showed it to Richard.
His expression hardened.
"Save everything. Don't reply.""
Evelyn examined the number.
Then she looked up.
"Daniel, I think we need to move quickly.""
"Why?""
She turned her laptop toward us.
A new email had arrived.
The subject line read:
*URGENT: REQUEST FOR EMERGENCY PATENT TRANSFER*
May you like
The sender was Whitmore Technologies' legal department.
And the proposed transfer document listed my father's patent as already belonging to them.
