Chapter 2 - PATRICIA’S SIGNATURE
Teresa did not play it.
I hated her for approximately thirty seconds.
Then Medina said:
“Not yet.”
I looked from one woman to the other.
“What is wrong with everyone?”
“You have been awake for almost two days,” Medina said. “You gave birth this morning.”
“I know what I did.”
“That isn’t what I’m questioning.”
“Then play it.”
Patricia cried silently.
That made me angrier.
“Stop crying.”
She looked at me.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
Her mouth opened.
Nothing.
“Patricia.”
“I witnessed your signature.”
“I can see that.”
“I shouldn’t have.”
“Why?”
“Oscar said—”
Medina interrupted.
“Patricia, do you have counsel?”
“No.”
“Then be careful.”
I stared at Medina.
“She came here to talk.”
“Yes, and I’m your attorney, not hers.”
That distinction mattered.
Patricia sat.
Teresa explained how she found the recording.
Not hacked.
Not secret police technology.
Patricia had called Medina earlier that evening after Oscar sent her a message telling her:
“Keep your mouth shut about yesterday.”
Patricia panicked.
She admitted that Oscar had discussed the property paperwork with her in her kitchen two nights before my labor.
Her home security camera recorded audio in the kitchen.
She thought recordings automatically deleted after twenty-four hours.
They did not.
Cloud retention was seven days.
Teresa accessed it with Patricia’s permission.
“How much?”
I asked.
“About eighteen minutes relevant to Oscar.”
“What does he say?”
Teresa looked at Medina.
Medina looked at me.
“Before that, I need to know exactly what you remember signing.”
So I tried.
Hospital room.
Contractions.
Oscar beside the window.
Patricia rubbing my shoulders.
A nurse brought genuine consent forms.
Treatment.
Anesthesia.
Newborn care.
Those had hospital branding.
Later Oscar produced a separate clipboard.
White pages.
He said:
“These are the condo and insurance things we talked about.”
We had talked about adding him as an emergency contact with the HOA.
That was all.
I remembered asking:
“Can’t this wait?”
Oscar:
“It’ll be harder after the baby.”
Patricia said:
“Just get it done, sweetheart.”
Then pain.
I signed.
Did I read?
Not properly.
That was my mistake.
A serious one.
Being in labor did not erase my responsibility automatically.
But it also did not give Oscar permission to misdescribe documents.
Medina asked:
“Was a notary present?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“Why good?”
“Because a deed transfer generally requires specific execution formalities. What I’m looking at is not itself a completed recorded deed.”
Relief hit.
Then stopped.
“But?”
“He may have used this authority for other things.”
“Locks.”
“Yes.”
“Can he legally lock me out?”
“Not simply because he has this paper.”
Ray muttered something unprintable.
Medina continued:
“We need HOA records, locksmith records, property records, and every hospital document.”
I looked at Teresa’s phone.
“And the recording.”
“Yes.”
“Now?”
May you like
Medina nodded.
Teresa pressed PLAY.
