There was a brief silence.
“”Your son contacted our office. He said he was handling the sale on your behalf.””
I gripped the kitchen counter.
“”I haven’t authorized anyone to sell my house.””
Patricia immediately apologized.
She explained that Michael had provided paperwork indicating he was authorized to act for me.
I asked her to send me copies.
When the documents arrived, my hands began shaking.
There was a signature at the bottom of one page.
It looked almost exactly like mine.
Almost.
But I had never signed it.
The document was supposedly a power of attorney granting Michael authority over certain financial and property matters.
I had never given him one.
Someone had forged my signature.
I immediately called Robert Hayes, the attorney who had handled Richard’s estate.
Robert had known our family for more than twenty years.
He was the person Richard trusted with our wills, property documents, and financial arrangements.
When I explained what had happened, he didn’t interrupt.
He listened carefully.
Then he asked me one question.
“”Eleanor, have you signed anything recently giving Michael authority to manage your property?””
“”No.””
“”Are you absolutely certain?””
“”Robert, I would remember signing something that could take my home away.””
He paused.
“”All right. Don’t confront him yet. Send me every document you received. I’ll review the records and meet you as soon as possible.””
That afternoon, Robert called back.
His voice was unusually serious.
“”Eleanor, I need you to understand something. The paperwork they submitted does not match the legal records.””
