Chapter 4 - THE SIGNATURE THAT SHOULDN'T EXIST
Enzo read the lease letter twice.
Then a third time.
The language was aggressive.
The rent increase enormous.
And the surrender offer insultingly low.
But what caught his attention was the signature block.
Authorized by Rinaldi Urban Development.
Enzo stared.
He had never approved it.
"Who sent this?" he asked.
Hollis pointed to the letterhead.
"Preston Cain's office."
Enzo nodded slowly.
Then took out his phone.
"Silvano."
"Yes?"
"Bring me the original authorization records for Brennan's lease."
A pause.
"Now?"
"Now."
Adeline watched him.
"Who are you?"
Enzo looked at her.
"Someone who should have paid closer attention."
Two hours later, Silvano arrived.
He carried a folder.
Enzo opened it.
Inside was a copy of the same lease letter.
And a document bearing his signature.
Except the signature was wrong.
The angle.
The spacing.
The pressure pattern.
Enzo stared.
"Forgery."
Silvano nodded.
"Likely."
Adeline leaned closer.
She studied the document.
Then frowned.
"May I?"
Enzo looked at her.
She pointed.
"The signature isn't the only problem."
Silvano raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
Adeline looked at the paper.
"The ink pattern is inconsistent with the rest of the document. It may have been reproduced from another source."
Enzo stared.
"You can tell that?"
She nodded.
"Not conclusively without examination. But I know what to look for."
Silvano studied her.
"What's your background?"
"Conservation."
He looked surprised.
"Art?"
"Paper. Paintings. Historical documents."
Enzo's expression changed.
He looked at Adeline.
"Would you be willing to examine these records professionally?"
She hesitated.
"I don't have a current practice."
"That wasn't my question."
She looked down.
Then nodded.
"Yes."
Enzo smiled faintly.
"Then I'll have my attorney arrange a proper contract."
Adeline stared.
"A contract?"
"Paid work."
Her eyes filled.
For the first time in months, someone was offering her a job because of what she knew.
Not because they pitied her.
Not because they wanted to rescue her.
Because she had a skill they needed.
That evening, Preston Cain received a message from an unknown number.
THE BRENNAN LEASE IS UNDER REVIEW.
His face went pale.
Then another message arrived.
MR. RINALDI REQUESTS YOUR PRESENCE TOMORROW.
May you like
Cain stared at the screen.
For the first time in years, he was afraid.
