The Blank Signature

Claire asked to speak to Elise alone. Roslyn said no. June said absolutely not. Theo said nothing, which meant he agreed with June.

Claire's face cracked. "I signed a blank acknowledgment. That is all."

"For a death verification?" Elise asked.

"For foundation hospice grants. Martin said St. Agnes needed the forms before month-end."

June stared at her mother as if Claire had turned into a stranger. "You signed blank forms for Granddad?"

"He is not your grandfather," Claire snapped, then covered her mouth.

The room went still.

Martin's gaze cut toward her.

Elise caught the movement. So did Roslyn.

June's voice went thin. "What does that mean?"

"It means I am upset," Claire said.

"No," June said. "It means something else."

Martin stepped in. "This is cruel to a child."

Elise turned on him. "You grabbed that child at school."

"I protected her from a woman whose identity is under criminal review."

Roslyn moved closer to Martin. "You're done talking to minors today."

His smile returned, smaller and meaner. "Detective, unless you are detaining me, I am going back to my office to preserve estate records."

"Do that," Roslyn said. "Touch the wrong file and I will make sure the warrant notes timing."

Martin left. The air improved.

Claire sank into a chair. "He told me Vivian was hiding money from all of us. He said the forms protected June's school fund if Elise contested the will."

"I had not contested anything."

"You always contest everything."

Elise wanted to fire back. She looked at June and stopped. The girl had heard enough adults cutting each other for one morning.

Theo pointed to the witness fields. "Blank forms explain the signature, not the missing body."

Roslyn's phone buzzed. She read the text and cursed under her breath.

"Lenora Pike's car was found behind a shuttered pharmacy," she said. "Empty."

Elise looked at the death certificate again.

"Then we find the person who needed her silent."