Chapter 6 - THE SIGNATURE FROM THE DAY HAROLD COULDN’T WRITE
The resolution was dated October 18.
Nora remembered October 18.
She had been sitting beside her father in Lancaster General Hospital while a neurologist explained that Harold’s second stroke had affected fine motor control in his right hand.
For nearly two weeks he could barely hold a spoon.
Yet the company resolution carried a smooth, looping signature.
Harold Farwell.
Nora looked at Gerald.
“He didn’t sign this.”
Gerald remained careful.
“I cannot conclude that from appearance alone.”
“He couldn’t write his name.”
“That is relevant.”
“Who submitted it?”
“Marcus.”
Elaine stood from Gerald’s conference table.
“No.”
Nora turned toward her.
Elaine shook her head.
“He wouldn’t forge Harold’s signature.”
“Why not?”
“Because he wouldn’t.”
It was the least convincing argument Nora had ever heard.
Gerald slid another sheet forward.
The resolution authorized Farwell Architectural Millwork to extend a $200,000 company line of credit with Marcus as an approved user for specified operational purposes.
Invoices suggested $173,000 had been drawn.
Several payments went to legitimate suppliers.
Others were categorized vaguely as client development and executive expenses.
Elaine sat again.
“How much is missing?”
“We don’t know that anything is missing yet,” Gerald said.
Nora appreciated his refusal to leap ahead.
“We need the company accountant.”
The accountant, Thomas Reed, had worked with Harold for twenty-two years.
He arrived an hour later.
When shown the resolution, his reaction was immediate.
“I never saw this.”
Gerald frowned.
“You prepare the annual financial package.”
“This line wasn’t on the internal operating schedule I receive.”
“Could Marcus exclude it?”
Thomas looked deeply uncomfortable.
“He controls sales operations and some vendor accounts. He shouldn’t be able to conceal corporate borrowing from me indefinitely.”
“But?”
“But Harold became less involved after the stroke. We had management gaps.”
Nora heard the euphemism.
The family business had been functioning around an ill founder while everyone pretended continuity was strength.
Thomas agreed to review records with independent outside accountants.
Elaine remained silent on the drive home.
At Maple Street she finally said, “If Marcus did something illegal…”
Nora waited.
Elaine looked toward the house Harold had shared with her for thirty-five years.
“I don’t know if I can survive losing both of them in the same week.”
Nora’s anger softened despite herself.
“You already lost Dad.”
“I know.”
“Marcus facing consequences isn’t the same thing as losing him.”
Elaine looked at her.
“It feels like it.”
“That feeling is why we’re here.”
Elaine’s eyes filled.
For once, she did not argue.
That evening Marcus called Nora six times.
She ignored the first five.
On the sixth, she answered.
“You’re digging through company records.”
“Yes.”
“You have no authority there.”
“Dad’s executor does.”
“Gerald should stay in his lane.”
“He is.”
Marcus’s breathing changed.
“Nora, if outsiders go through those accounts, people are going to lose jobs.”
There it was again.
The employees.
Always the employees when Marcus needed someone to stop asking questions.
Nora said quietly, “Then you should have thought about them before whatever you did.”
Marcus hung up.
May you like
Ten minutes later, Nora received a text from Thomas Reed.
Found something. It changes the timeline.
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