The Old Woman Who Walked Into a Biker Diner

Chapter 3: The Paper With the Wrong Signature

The woman's smile thinned.

"Mrs. Miller has only one son."

Cole looked at the other bikers standing behind him.

"Not today."

Mason coughed once to hide a laugh. Duke leaned against the porch railing with his arms folded. Eli stood beside Ruth like a guard dog.

The woman looked annoyed, but not afraid.

"My name is Vanessa Crane," she said. "I represent Northline Estates. Mrs. Miller signed a purchase agreement three months ago. We are here to take possession."

Ruth shook her head. "I never signed anything."

Vanessa pulled papers from her folder. "Your signature is right here."

Cole took the papers before Vanessa could stop him.

He read silently.

Then his face changed.

"This is not her signature."

Vanessa gave a small laugh. "And you are a handwriting expert?"

Cole did not answer.

He looked at Ruth. "Do you have anything with your real signature?"

Ruth nodded quickly and led them inside. She opened a kitchen drawer and pulled out old tax forms, church donation slips, and a letter from her doctor.

Cole spread them on the table.

The difference was obvious.

Ruth's real signature was shaky, rounded, careful.

The one on the sale papers was sharp and fast.

"Forgery," Eli said.

Vanessa's smile disappeared. "You boys should be careful with accusations."

Duke stepped forward. "You should be careful stealing from old women."

The man beside Vanessa reached into his coat.

Cole moved first.

He grabbed the man's wrist before the hand came out. A small recording device fell to the floor.

Not a gun.

A recorder.

Cole looked at it, then at Vanessa.

"So that's the game? Get her scared, make her say something, use it against her?"

Ruth gasped. "They did that before. They came at night. They told me if I fought, I'd lose everything."

Cole's jaw tightened.

Vanessa snapped, "This is private property."

Cole held up the forged contract.

"Good. Then the police can meet us here."

Vanessa's face went pale for half a second.

That was when a familiar car turned into the driveway.

Ruth's voice broke.

"Michael?"

Her real son had arrived.

And he was wearing a Northline Estates badge.