Chapter 16 · The Signature

Charlotte's own handwriting.

She stared at the signature at the bottom of the custody waiver. The ink was five years old but the loops in the G hadn't changed. That was her hand. Her decision.

"Move." Marcus grabbed her elbow. "We've got maybe ninety seconds before they lock this floor."

She couldn't move. The document sat in the open vault like a land mine. Relinquishment of parental rights. Signature date matched the week Lisa disappeared. Not disappeared. Given away.

"Charlotte." Marcus's grip tightened. "I know what you're seeing but we don't have time—"

"I signed her away." The words came out flat. Wrong. "I told the cops she was taken. I lied to everyone for five years."

"You lied to keep her alive."

She turned on him. Fast enough that he had to step back or take her forehead to his nose. "Don't. Don't pretend you know why I did anything."

"I know because I was there." His voice dropped. Urgent but not loud. "Three loops ago I found the same vault. You told me.