Chapter 7: ## Chapter 7: The Deed That Disappeared
“It's: The Deed That Disappeared
“It's been missing since yesterday morning.””
David gripped the phone so tightly his been missing since yesterday morning.””
David gripped the phone so tightly his fingers began to ache.
“Mr fingers began to ache.
“Mr. Reed, are you telling me someone stole the original deed?””
“I'm telling you it disappeared from a locked filing cabinet in. Reed, are you telling me someone stole the original deed?””
“I'm telling you it disappeared from a locked filing cabinet in my office. There were no signs of forced entry.””
“Who has a key?””
“Three people. Me, my my office. There were no signs of forced entry.””
“Who has a key?””
“Three people. Me, my assistant, and the building manager.””
“Have you contacted the police?””
Thomas hesitated.
“Not yet.””
assistant, and the building manager.””
“Have you contacted the police?””
Thomas hesitated.
“Not yet.””
David stared at the laptop screen, where Vanessa's recorded voice remained pausedDavid stared at the laptop screen, where Vanessa's recorded voice remained paused above the audio timeline.
“Why not?””
“Because the last person who asked about that above the audio timeline.
“Why not?””
“Because the last person who asked about that deed was your wife.””
The room seemed to shrink around David.
“When did she contact you?””
“Four deed was your wife.””
The room seemed to shrink around David.
“When did she contact you?””
“Four days ago. She introduced herself as a representative of a legal firm and asked whether Eleanor Price's estate still days ago. She introduced herself as a representative of a legal firm and asked whether Eleanor Price's estate still held the original property deed.
I told her the document was protected and couldn't be released without a held the original property deed. I told her the document was protected and couldn't be released without a court order.””
“What did she say?””
“She told me I was making a mistake. Then she mentioned court order.””
“What did she say?””
“She told me I was making a mistake. Then she mentioned your father.””
David stood abruptly.
“What about my father?””
“She said Robert Mitchell had already admitted your father.””
David stood abruptly.
“What about my father?””
“She said Robert Mitchell had already admitted to signing the original transfer documents. She claimed his testimony would prove that Eleanor had authorized the sale.””
“That is to signing the original transfer documents. She claimed his testimony would prove that Eleanor had authorized the sale.””
“That is a lie.””
“I suspected as much. That's why I refused to cooperate.””
David glanced a lie.””
“I suspected as much. That's why I refused to cooperate.””
David glanced through the office doorway. His father sat beside Helen in the living room, his walking through the office doorway. His father sat beside Helen in the living room, his walking stick resting against his knee.
Neither of them knew that a missing document might determine stick resting against his knee. Neither of them knew that a missing document might determine whether they kept their home.
“Mr. Reed, listen to me. My father never signed those documents.””
“I believe whether they kept their home.
“Mr. Reed, listen to me. My father never signed those documents.””
“I believe you. But someone is working very hard to make it appear otherwise.””
“Then we need to you. But someone is working very hard to make it appear otherwise.””
“Then we need to meet tonight.””
Thomas finally agreed to meet at a small restaurant near his office. Before ending the call, he gave meet tonight.””
Thomas finally agreed to meet at a small restaurant near his office. Before ending the call, he gave David one final warning.
“Don't tell Vanessa where you're going.””
David one final warning.
“Don't tell Vanessa where you're going.””
David hung up and immediately called his attorney, Daniel Foster.
Daniel answered on the second ring.
“Tell meDavid hung up and immediately called his attorney, Daniel Foster.
Daniel answered on the second ring.
“Tell me you found something useful.””
“The original deed has disappeared. Vanessa contacted the executor four days ago, you found something useful.””
“The original deed has disappeared. Vanessa contacted the executor four days ago, and now she's telling people my father signed documents he never touched.””
Daniel's voice sharpened.
“Don't and now she's telling people my father signed documents he never touched.””
Daniel's voice sharpened.
“Don't confront her again. Preserve every recording, photograph, and message. I'll contact confront her again.
Preserve every recording, photograph, and message. I'll contact the appropriate authorities and arrange an emergency review of the property records.””
“What if she files the the appropriate authorities and arrange an emergency review of the property records.””
“What if she files the transfer before we can stop her?””
“Then we need to establish the fraud as quickly as possible. I'm transfer before we can stop her?””
“Then we need to establish the fraud as quickly as possible. I'm preparing an application to prevent any further transfer while the dispute is investigated preparing an application to prevent any further transfer while the dispute is investigated.””
David looked toward the staircase.
“She said Friday was the deadline.””
“Then we work.””
David looked toward the staircase.
“She said Friday was the deadline.””
“Then we work as though every hour matters.””
After the call, David gathered copies of the documents and placed them in a secure as though every hour matters.””
After the call, David gathered copies of the documents and placed them in a secure folder. He sent another copy to Daniel, then walked into the living room.
“I need to go out folder. He sent another copy to Daniel, then walked into the living room.
“I need to go out for a while,” he told his parents.
Helen immediately looked worried.
“Where?””
“To meet Eleanor Price's executor.””
for a while,” he told his parents.
Helen immediately looked worried.
“Where?””
“To meet Eleanor Price's executor.””
Robert's expression changed.
“Thomas found something?””
“The original deed is missing.””
Robert grRobert's expression changed.
“Thomas found something?””
“The original deed is missing.””
Robert gripped his walking stick.
“Then Marcus has finally made his move.””
David crouched in front ofipped his walking stick.
“Then Marcus has finally made his move.””
David crouched in front of him.
“Dad, do you know something you're not telling us?””
Robert's eyes filled with pain him.
“Dad, do you know something you're not telling us?””
Robert's eyes filled with pain.
“Not about the missing deed. But I know what Marcus does when he believes someone.
“Not about the missing deed. But I know what Marcus does when he believes someone can expose him.””
“What does he do?””
“He finds the person's weakness and can expose him.””
“What does he do?””
“He finds the person's weakness and turns it into a weapon.””
David thought of Linda's suspicious bank transfer.
“That's turns it into a weapon.””
David thought of Linda's suspicious bank transfer.
“That's what he's doing to my sister.””
“Then be careful. Vanessa may not be acting alone.””
David rose.
“I'll be back before midnight.””
Helen what he's doing to my sister.””
“Then be careful. Vanessa may not be acting alone.””
David rose.
“I'll be back before midnight.””
Helen caught his hand.
“Please don't let this destroy you.””
He squeezed her fingers.
“It won't.””
But caught his hand.
“Please don't let this destroy you.””
He squeezed her fingers.
“It won't.””
But as he drove toward the restaurant, he wondered whether he could keep that promise.
At 7:18 as he drove toward the restaurant, he wondered whether he could keep that promise.
At 7:18 p.m., Thomas Reed was waiting in a booth near the back wall. He was a thin man in his p.m., Thomas Reed was waiting in a booth near the back wall. He was a thin man in his late sixties, with silver hair, a navy overcoat, and the exhausted expression of someone who late sixties, with silver hair, a navy overcoat, and the exhausted expression of someone who had spent too many years fighting a battle nobody else could see.
He stood had spent too many years fighting a battle nobody else could see.
He stood when David approached.
“Thank you for coming.””
David slid into the booth.
“Tell me when David approached.
“Thank you for coming.””
David slid into the booth.
“Tell me everything.””
Thomas placed a leather folder on the table.
“Eleanor Price died seven years ago. Before her death, she everything.””
Thomas placed a leather folder on the table.
“Eleanor Price died seven years ago. Before her death, she had been trying to recover several properties that she believed were being transferred without had been trying to recover several properties that she believed were being transferred without her authorization.””
“Did she know Vanessa?””
“Yes. She met her twice, perhaps three times. Eleanor believed her authorization.””
“Did she know Vanessa?””
“Yes. She met her twice, perhaps three times. Eleanor believed Vanessa was working with Marcus Bell to acquire properties from elderly owners who didn't understand the paperwork.””
David felt Vanessa was working with Marcus Bell to acquire properties from elderly owners who didn't understand the paperwork.””
David felt his stomach tighten.
“Why didn't she go to the police?””
“She did. Unfortunately, she died his stomach tighten.
“Why didn't she go to the police?””
“She did. Unfortunately, she died before the investigation was completed. The case became complicated because several documents appeared to show that she before the investigation was completed. The case became complicated because several documents appeared to show that she had voluntarily sold the properties.””
“Documents that were forged?””
“That's what I suspected. But the original deed would have helped establish the had voluntarily sold the properties.””
“Documents that were forged?””
“That's what I suspected. But the original deed would have helped establish the chain of ownership.””
Thomas opened the folder.
Inside were photocopies of old correspondence, a property map chain of ownership.””
Thomas opened the folder.
Inside were photocopies of old correspondence, a property map, and a photograph of a small brick house surrounded by mature trees.
“This was Eleanor's main residence,” he explained, and a photograph of a small brick house surrounded by mature trees.
“This was Eleanor's main residence,” he explained.
“She left it to a charitable trust. After her death, the property was transferred to Westbridge through documents.
“She left it to a charitable trust. After her death, the property was transferred to Westbridge through documents that I believe were fraudulent.””
David studied the photograph.
“What's the connection to my parents' house?””
that I believe were fraudulent.””
David studied the photograph.
“What's the connection to my parents' house?””
Thomas took a breath.
“Eleanor's estate held an interest in a pieceThomas took a breath.
“Eleanor's estate held an interest in a piece of land that borders your parents' property. Years ago, a survey error created an overlap between the two legal descriptions of land that borders your parents' property. Years ago, a survey error created an overlap between the two legal descriptions. Someone used that discrepancy to make it appear that part of your parents' land belonged to Eleanor's estate.””
David stared. Someone used that discrepancy to make it appear that part of your parents' land belonged to Eleanor's estate.””
David stared at him.
“That's impossible. My parents' deed clearly describes their boundaries at him.
“That's impossible. My parents' deed clearly describes their boundaries.””
“Your parents' original deed does. The newer copies contain an altered description.””
Thomas slid.””
“Your parents' original deed does. The newer copies contain an altered description.””
Thomas slid a document across the table.
David compared it with the deed he had seen in his parents' files a document across the table.
David compared it with the deed he had seen in his parents' files.
The street address was correct. The parcel number was correct. But a small section describing the eastern boundary had.
The street address was correct. The parcel number was correct. But a small section describing the eastern boundary had been changed.
Someone had extended the claimed property line into his parents' yard.
It was been changed.
Someone had extended the claimed property line into his parents' yard.
It was a subtle alteration, easy to overlook unless someone knew exactly what to look for.
“How much land?”” David asked.
“Enough to affect the property's value. More importantly, the discrepancy a subtle alteration, easy to overlook unless someone knew exactly what to look for.
“How much land?”” David asked.
“Enough to affect the property's value. More importantly, the discrepancy created a legal argument that Westbridge could use to challenge ownership.””
David's jaw tightened.
“So Vanessa wants created a legal argument that Westbridge could use to challenge ownership.””
David's jaw tightened.
“So Vanessa wants the house because she can claim the land was never entirely ours.””
“That's the house because she can claim the land was never entirely ours.””
“That's one possibility. But I think she wants something else.””
Thomas removed another sheet from the folder.
one possibility. But I think she wants something else.””
Thomas removed another sheet from the folder.
It was a company registration document.
Northstar Family Holdings.
The same name Linda had found in the old ledger.
David read the listed officers.
His eyes stoppedIt was a company registration document.
Northstar Family Holdings.
The same name Linda had found in the old ledger.
David read the listed officers.
His eyes stopped on the third name.
*Eleanor Price Family Trust — Authorized Representative: Linda Mitchell.*
He looked up on the third name.
*Eleanor Price Family Trust — Authorized Representative: Linda Mitchell.*
He looked up.
“Linda was never an authorized representative of Eleanor's trust.””
“I know,”.
“Linda was never an authorized representative of Eleanor's trust.””
“I know,” Thomas replied.
“I verified that with the original trust records.””
“Then someone Thomas replied.
“I verified that with the original trust records.””
“Then someone used her identity, too.””
“Most likely.””
David's mind raced. The forged payment used her identity, too.””
“Most likely.””
David's mind raced. The forged payment, the altered property description, the missing deed, and the fraudulent loan application were no longer separate incidents. They were, the altered property description, the missing deed, and the fraudulent loan application were no longer separate incidents. They were pieces of the same scheme.
But one question remained.
Why had Vanessa married him?
Thomas seemed to read pieces of the same scheme.
But one question remained.
Why had Vanessa married him?
Thomas seemed to read his expression.
“David, I need to ask you something personal.””
“Go ahead.””
“When did you meet Vanessa?””
“Four years ago. At his expression.
“David, I need to ask you something personal.””
“Go ahead.””
“When did you meet Vanessa?””
“Four years ago. At a charity fundraiser.””
“Did she know your father's name before that evening?””
David frowned.
“I don't think so. Why a charity fundraiser.””
“Did she know your father's name before that evening?””
David frowned.
“I don't think so. Why?””
Thomas pulled another document from the folder.
It was a list of names associated with the original property dispute.
Robert Mitchell appeared?””
Thomas pulled another document from the folder.
It was a list of names associated with the original property dispute.
Robert Mitchell appeared near the bottom.
Beside his name was a handwritten note.
**Possible witness. Son employed in construction and development near the bottom.
Beside his name was a handwritten note.
*Possible witness. Son employed in construction and development. Access to financing contacts.*
David stared at the words.
“You're saying she may have targeted me because of my work?””
“I'm saying someone. Access to financing contacts.**
David stared at the words.
“You're saying she may have targeted me because of my work?””
“I'm saying someone researched your family before you met her. I can't prove Vanessa was involved in that research, but researched your family before you met her. I can't prove Vanessa was involved in that research, but the timing deserves investigation.””
David felt as if the floor had dropped beneath him.
He remembered Vanessa approaching him at the fundraiser, asking about his construction the timing deserves investigation.””
David felt as if the floor had dropped beneath him.
He remembered Vanessa approaching him at the fundraiser, asking about his construction projects and laughing when he explained how he had grown up helping his father repair the projects and laughing when he explained how he had grown up helping his father repair the family home.
At the time, he had thought she was interested in his life.
Now, every memory family home.
At the time, he had thought she was interested in his life.
Now, every memory carried a shadow.
Thomas closed the folder.
“There is one more thing. Eleanor left carried a shadow.
Thomas closed the folder.
“There is one more thing. Eleanor left a sealed statement with her attorney. It identifies the person she believed had helped Marcus obtain a sealed statement with her attorney. It identifies the person she believed had helped Marcus obtain fraudulent property documents.””
“Who?””
Thomas looked directly at him.
“I don't know. fraudulent property documents.””
“Who?””
Thomas looked directly at him.
“I don't know. The statement was sealed under instructions that it could only be opened if the original deed was challenged or The statement was sealed under instructions that it could only be opened if the original deed was challenged or reported missing.””
David's phone vibrated.
A message from Daniel appeared.
**Emergency property alert filed. We have also reported missing.””
David's phone vibrated.
A message from Daniel appeared.
*Emergency property alert filed. We have also notified the authorities about the suspected forged loan documents. Do not attempt notified the authorities about the suspected forged loan documents. Do not attempt to recover the deed yourself.*
David showed Thomas the message.
“Then we wait to recover the deed yourself.**
David showed Thomas the message.
“Then we wait for the legal process.””
Thomas nodded.
But as David began gathering the papers, a waitress for the legal process.””
Thomas nodded.
But as David began gathering the papers, a waitress approached the table.
“Excuse me, sir. Someone asked me to give you this.””
She approached the table.
“Excuse me, sir. Someone asked me to give you this.””
She placed a small white envelope beside his hand.
David looked around the restaurant.
Nobody appeared to be watching them placed a small white envelope beside his hand.
David looked around the restaurant.
Nobody appeared to be watching them.
He opened the envelope.
Inside was a photograph of his parents sitting in their living room.
The picture had been taken through the.
He opened the envelope.
Inside was a photograph of his parents sitting in their living room.
The picture had been taken through the front window that afternoon.
On the back, a message had been written in black ink.
**Withdraw front window that afternoon.
On the back, a message had been written in black ink.
*Withdraw the complaint by Friday, or your parents will lose more than their house.*
David's blood the complaint by Friday, or your parents will lose more than their house.**
David's blood ran cold.
He immediately called home.
Helen answered.
“David?””
“Mom, is Dad with you?””
“Yes. We're ran cold.
He immediately called home.
Helen answered.
“David?””
“Mom, is Dad with you?””
“Yes. We're in the living room. Why?””
“Lock the doors. Don't open them for anyone except the in the living room. Why?””
“Lock the doors. Don't open them for anyone except the police or Aunt Linda. I'm coming home now.””
“What happened?””
“I'll explain when I get there.””
He ended police or Aunt Linda. I'm coming home now.””
“What happened?””
“I'll explain when I get there.””
He ended the call and looked at Thomas.
“Someone is watching my parents.””
Thomas stood.
“Then you need to leave. I'll contact my the call and looked at Thomas.
“Someone is watching my parents.””
Thomas stood.
“Then you need to leave. I'll contact my attorney and report the threat.””
David rushed toward the exit.
Outside, the night air smelled of rain and exhaust attorney and report the threat.””
David rushed toward the exit.
Outside, the night air smelled of rain and exhaust fumes. He unlocked his car, then stopped.
A black SUV sat across the street with its fumes. He unlocked his car, then stopped.
A black SUV sat across the street with its headlights off.
As he watched, the driver's window lowered.
Marcus Bell looked out.
He was older than in the courthouse photograph, with gray headlights off.
As he watched, the driver's window lowered.
Marcus Bell looked out.
He was older than in the courthouse photograph, with gray at his temples and a thin scar running along his jaw.
He smiled as though they at his temples and a thin scar running along his jaw.
He smiled as though they were old friends.
Then he lifted his phone and held it against the glass were old friends.
Then he lifted his phone and held it against the glass.
The screen displayed a photograph of Linda.
Beneath it were three words.
**SHE KNOWS EVERYTHING.
The screen displayed a photograph of Linda.
Beneath it were three words.
*SHE KNOWS EVERYTHING.*
The SUV pulled away before David could reach it.
He stood motionless on the sidewalk, realizing.**
The SUV pulled away before David could reach it.
He stood motionless on the sidewalk, realizing that Marcus wasn't simply threatening his family.
He was telling David that the truth about Linda was still waiting to be uncovered.
And whatever that truth was, Marcus that Marcus wasn't simply threatening his family.
He was telling David that the truth about Linda was still waiting to be uncovered.
May you like
And whatever that truth was, Marcus was willing to put everyone at risk to keep it buried.
was willing to put everyone at risk to keep it buried.
