Eighteen Years After Ray Abandoned Him on a Dirt Road, Thomas Found His Mother’s Letter

“The quitclaim deed filed March twelfth, plus four known signatures of Diane Vance from 2004 and 2005.”

“How many known signatures did you have to pick from?”

“Seven.

I used the four with clear dates and no smudges.”

She tapped the first board.

“The real signature flows through the D without stopping.

The deed signature stalls twice before the loop.”

Vance stepped back.