Chapter 5 - Kevin’s Stamp
Kevin Brooks was not a notary.
That was the first good news.
The document listed a commission number belonging to Kelly Brooks.
Kevin’s older sister.
A legitimate notary in Ames.
Kelly told Detective Hall she had never seen the land option.
Her stamp disappeared for three weeks the previous winter.
She assumed she misplaced it during a move.
Kevin had access to her house.
He admitted taking it.
Not immediately.
First he said he borrowed it for “office paperwork.”
Then investigators showed him the fake option.
He asked for a lawyer.
Good decision.
By the next day, his lawyer contacted prosecutors about cooperation.
Kevin admitted:
Brent asked him to witness my signature on several documents.
He never saw me sign the Midland option.
Brent brought it already signed.
Kevin stamped Kelly’s seal.
“Why?” Detective Hall asked.
“Brent said Rachel had signed at rehab and they needed a witness block fixed.”
Kevin knew that made no sense.
He did it anyway.
Brent paid him $2,000.
Kevin also notarized one guardianship supporting affidavit.
Again using sister’s stamp.
Fraud.
Potential criminal conduct.
His nervousness in the yard had not been conscience alone.
He knew he was already involved.
Then came a bigger admission.
Midland Ridge had paid a $150,000 option deposit.
Where?
Not to me.
To B.C. Development Group under an assignment document Brent produced.
The developer believed Brent represented our marital property interests.
Their attorneys had failed to verify title carefully enough.
Cedar Hollow was solely mine.
The option was disputed.
Midland immediately froze transaction and cooperated once notified.
No evil developer conspiracy.
Sloppy due diligence.
Possibly civil liability.
Brent had taken the deposit.
That explained some transfers.
But not all.
The settlement withdrawals had financed his construction business, which was failing.
B.C. Development owed subcontractors.
Tax debt.
Equipment loans.
He needed cash.
My disability settlement became his bank.
Cedar Hollow became his rescue.
And guardianship would help him create a legal appearance of authority.
Maya sought emergency protective orders over my assets.
The court froze disputed property transactions.
Blocked Brent from settlement account.
Denied his guardianship petition temporarily because:
I appeared mentally capable.
My attorney presented medical capacity letters.
The affidavits were under investigation.
And Brent had just been charged with assaulting the proposed ward.
He still had right to a full hearing if he pursued.
He withdrew petition.
That should have felt like victory.
Instead, I looked at Midland’s forged option and wondered how many things I had signed during rehab without knowing.
Maya ordered complete document audit.
Bank.
Insurance.
Property.
Medical authorizations.
Vehicle titles.
Tax returns.
Everything.
I hated it.
Before injury, I was a structural engineer.
I read contracts for fun.
Afterward, pain medication, surgeries, depression, and rehabilitation turned paperwork into fog.
Brent had stepped into that fog.
Not all at once.
First:
“I’ll handle electric bill.”
Then:
“You don’t need to deal with insurance.”
Then:
“Just sign here.”
Then:
“Your memory hasn’t been great.”
Then:
“Maybe I should manage everything.”
By the time I noticed control, he had already converted care into evidence of incapacity.
Allison came to see me through her lawyer’s arranged meeting.
I almost refused.
Then agreed.
No hug.
She sat across accessible conference table.
“I’m sorry.”
I stared.
“For which part?”
She swallowed.
“The affidavit.”
“The wheelchair.”
“Yes.”
“The party.”
“I didn’t know about the car.”
“You knew he wanted to humiliate me.”
“Yes.”
“Why help?”
“He had me scared.”
“So did I.”
She started crying.
I did not comfort her.
Then she said:
“There’s something you need to know about the day you fell.”
Every part of me went still.
“What?”
“I was at the office.”
“So?”
“Brent came in that night.”
My breathing changed.
“What time?”
“After midnight.”
“Why does that matter?”
“He had blood on his sleeve.”
I stared.
“My blood?”
“I don’t know.”
“What did he say?”
May you like
Allison closed her eyes.
“He said, ‘Rachel finally learned what happens when she pushes me too far.’”
