Chapter 2 - THE SIGNATURE THAT SHOULD NOT EXIST
Mara did not work in homicide.
That disappointed people when they heard the sentence later.
She worked for the Illinois Attorney General’s Office in the Public Integrity and Financial Crimes Division.
Deeds.
Trust fraud.
Public corruption.
Financial exploitation.
Forgery.
Money laundering.
Paper.
The kind Daniel thought was safer than violence.
The morning after finding Valentina, Mara did exactly one thing before opening any Cross family file.
She recused herself.
That surprised Daniel’s attorney later.
It also saved the case.
Mara contacted Deputy Chief Rebecca Sloan.
“My mother may be the victim of financial exploitation and fraudulent transfer.”
Rebecca asked:
“Potential suspect?”
“My brother.”
“Potential conflict?”
“Everything.”
Rebecca assigned Special Counsel Aaron Bell and a separate forensic team.
Mara became witness and family member.
Not investigator.
She hated it.
But rules only matter when they stop you from doing what you want.
The deed recorded six days before Valentina’s discharge from the hospital.
Grantor:
Valentina Cross, Trustee of the Cross Residence Trust.
Buyer:
Ashbury Redevelopment LLC.
Purchase price:
$8.4 million.
Signature:
Valentina Cross.
Notarized.
Mara stared at the date.
That afternoon, Valentina had been in a monitored hospital room after abdominal surgery.
Her chart showed pain medication.
Physical therapy.
A nursing note:
Patient disoriented to time after medication administration, resting.
Yet title records claimed Valentina appeared in person before a notary at 3:18 p.m.
She had not.
That was the first impossible fact.
The second:
The proceeds did not go to Valentina.
They went into an escrow account.
Then out.
$3.2 million to discharge an old mortgage.
$1.1 million to taxes and development liens.
$2.6 million to Cross Strategic Consulting LLC.
Daniel’s company.
The remainder to legal and transaction costs.
Mara looked at Aaron.
“He paid himself.”
Aaron corrected her.
“Potentially. We verify before we conclude.”
She nodded.
Good.
Evidence before anger.
Daniel had already made one mistake.
May you like
He believed a recorded deed was the end of the story.
Mara knew it was only the first page.
