Bradley’s face had gone pale.
“The board provided the records.”
Judge Marsh turned to Rachel.
“Ms. Collins.”
Rachel stood.
“Yes, Your Honor.”
“Your client contests the signature?”
“Completely. We have military records showing he was in Afghanistan on the execution date.”
“Original document?”
“We have never seen one.”
Judge Marsh looked back at Bradley.
“Do you possess the original?”
“No.”
“Recorded copy?”
He said nothing.
“Mr. Shaw?”
“No, Your Honor.”
The judge leaned back.
“So you are asking this court to restrain a landowner from controlling his farm based on an unrecorded photocopy of an agreement bearing a signature he says was impossible for him to execute because he was deployed overseas.”
Nobody moved.
Judge Marsh closed the folder.
“Request denied.”
Trish’s shoulders dropped.
But the judge wasn’t finished.
“And I’m referring the disputed document to the county prosecutor for review.”
That was the first payoff.
