Chapter 12 - The Notary Who Was Dead
The forged deed case produced one final humiliation for Christopher.
The notary stamp belonged to Janice Porter.
She had died before the fake deed date.
Christopher had copied her seal from an old Northstar document.
Investigators found the source scan on his laptop.
He admitted.
His explanation during plea proffer:
“I thought Mom deserved the house.”
Then:
“I thought if we showed a deed, the trust would settle.”
“Did Sabrina’s father being trustee influence?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“I thought he would back down to avoid embarrassment.”
So the deed was leverage.
Not a sophisticated scheme.
A desperate fake.
Then:
“Did Florence know?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“I told her I made something that would help.”
“Did she know not genuine?”
“Yes.”
Texts confirmed.
Florence later admitted.
“I knew it wasn’t real.”
That sentence ended most remaining criminal dispute.
Then why submit to lawyer?
“I thought maybe the history was so old nobody could prove.”
That was fraud thinking.
Then sentencing came later.
Meanwhile divorce mediation.
Christopher offered:
I keep my retirement.
He keeps business.
Each keeps debts.
He repays $18,700 roof money plus $10,000 housing settlement.
No claim against my retirement.
No spousal maintenance.
I wanted more.
Rachel asked:
“What is your goal?”
“Accountability.”
“That is not number.”
I hated lawyers.
Then she separated.
Provable roof fraud:
$18,700.
Housing misrepresentation:
Potential damages uncertain because I did receive housing.
Maybe difference between reasonable contribution and what paid, perhaps $10,000 to $15,000.
Kitchen improvements:
Weak.
Business debts I knowingly paid:
Weak.
Groceries/utilities:
Not claim.
Emotional damages from assault?
Possible civil battery claim, but criminal restitution/insurance not much. Could pursue, but costs.
Credit account:
Issuer removed liability.
No direct loss except credit monitoring/legal.
Retirement marital share I might owe Christopher if no settlement.
Global $28,700 plus waiver of retirement division might be economically fair.
Then I asked:
“What about Florence?”
Separate civil defendant.
Her $34,600 trust payment could fund settlement.
She had assets.
But collecting would prolong.
I did not want years.
Then Florence sent through lawyer:
She would pay $12,000 toward housing claim without admission if I dismissed civil action against her after criminal property case.
Christopher would pay $28,700 over twelve months.
Total $40,700.
Plus divorce waivers.
Rachel calculated.
Likely better than uncertain trial after fees.
I did not accept yet.
Because there was one issue.
Christopher’s business.
He claimed nearly worthless.
But my money funded equipment.
Could marital estate have interest?
Mercer Mechanical existed before marriage.
Separate business.
But appreciation during marriage partly marital if active efforts.
Accountant valued net equity around $46,000 after debt.
Potential marital portion maybe $18,000.
Christopher wanted keep all.
If I waived, settlement should reflect.
We negotiated.
He increased cash settlement to $37,000.
Florence $12,000.
I keep full retirement.
He keeps business.
He assumes all business debt.
Credit card issuer removes me.
No spousal maintenance.
Could work.
Then I asked for one more term.
Written acknowledgment:
No payment by Sabrina conferred ownership in Hawthorne.
No debt owed by Sabrina to Florence.
Florence hated.
Why?
Because it forced truth.
Eventually agreed.
Then my parents.
My father said:
“Take settlement if lawyer thinks fair.”
“You’re not angry?”
“I’m furious.”
“You don’t sound.”
“Anger and arithmetic can coexist.”
My mother said:
“I want them to pay everything.”
“Everything isn’t recoverable.”
“I know.”
She hated too.
Then one night I opened suitcase to pack for work trip.
For first time since leaving, I hesitated before putting coffee inside.
I heard Florence:
Let’s see if you aren’t stealing.
My body remembered.
I sat on bed.
Then I packed anyway.
Trauma sometimes attaches to ridiculous objects.
Coffee.
Zippers.
A blouse.
I went on trip.
No one searched.
When I returned, Rachel called.
Christopher had missed first proposed settlement payment before agreement even signed? That wouldn't. Maybe he sold compressor.
Instead she said:
“Christopher’s business lender filed suit.”
He was behind.
If business collapsed, settlement collectability worsened.
We needed secure payment.
What asset?
He had work van, equipment.
Maybe he could sign confession judgment? Better.
We structured settlement with lump sum from sale of business equipment and monthly secured by vehicle.
Then something unexpected.
Florence offered to pay Christopher’s $37,000 herself from trust settlement money.
My father’s trust would pay Florence $34,600, and she wanted to use it to protect her son.
The same money originating from an accounting correction my father insisted on.
I stared at circularity.
Rachel said:
“Money doesn’t have morality. Terms do.”
May you like
We structured direct payment through escrow after Florence’s trust settlement.
For once, everyone’s paperwork would say exactly where money went.
