The forged authority looked more convincing before the original arrived.
On its own, it carried my household mark beside a valid commercial account number. The lower half named the transport broker. A person reading quickly could decide that the Valdrake household had approved the collection.
Beside the real invoice, the missing part became obvious. Account paid. Receipt only. No authority to act for the household.
The forger had copied the upper section and removed the limit beneath it. The security officer held both pages flat while the evidence clerk read the references aloud. I kept my hands off them.
"The original covered packing cloth sent through a household supplier," the officer said. "The broker obtained a copy through that supplier's records. It didn't authorize any student transfer."
