Chapter 7 - Bellweather.
Rebecca pulled the recorded deed onto the large library screen.
Emily read every line twice.
Her father's house had been transferred to Bellweather Holdings using a warranty deed bearing Emily's forged signature.
The notarization looked legitimate.
The transfer price was ten dollars.
"This is impossible."
Rebecca shook her head.
"It is fraudulent, but it is not impossible."
Daniel stood beside the fireplace with both hands pressed against his head.
"Claire said she only needed a draft deed for the lender."
Emily turned on him.
"You gave her access to my estate documents?"
"Copies."
"Copies were enough."
Rebecca scrolled further.
"The notary is Thomas Vale."
Daniel looked up.
"He works for my mother."
Emily felt the room tilt.
Margaret had created a chain in which every person seemed connected to another secret.
Rebecca began making calls.
"Did you sleep with Claire?"
"No."
"Did you love her?"
"No."
"Did you trust her more than me?"
Daniel looked destroyed.
"For three months, yes."
Emily nodded slowly.
"Why?"
"Because every conversation with you reminded me of what I had done."
"So you hid with people who helped you keep doing it."
Rebecca ended a call.
"The county clerk will flag the deed, but Bellweather may have already used the property as security."
Emily looked toward the ceiling, imagining Sophie sleeping upstairs in a house someone else might legally claim.
"Can Claire sell it?"
"Not cleanly, once fraud is alleged."
"That is not what I asked."
Rebecca met her eyes.
"She can try."
Daniel's phone rang.
Emily told him to answer on speaker.
Claire's voice filled the room.
"Daniel, your mother is out of control."
Emily leaned toward the phone.
"This is Emily."
Then Claire whispered, "Oh God."
"Where is Margaret?"
"I don't know."
"Where is my deed?"
Claire began to breathe quickly.
"Emily, I can explain."
"That sentence is popular today."
Rebecca gestured for Emily to keep her talking.
Claire continued.
"Margaret brought me the signed documents."
"They were forged."
"I know that now."
"You knew enough to hide behind a shell company."
"I was trying to secure Daniel's debt."
"With my house."
Claire's voice cracked.
"Margaret said you had agreed."
Daniel shouted, "You knew she hadn't."
Claire snapped back.
"And you knew the loan was fraudulent."
Emily looked at Daniel.
"What loan?"
Claire answered before he could.
"The bridge loan."
Rebecca typed rapidly.
"How much?"
Claire whispered, "Two point four million."
Emily could not feel her hands.
Daniel sank into a chair.
"I never received two point four million."
Claire laughed bitterly.
"Neither did I."
Rebecca stopped typing.
"Who did?"
Claire hesitated.
"Margaret."
Daniel immediately called back.
Rebecca searched financial filings connected to Bellweather.
"There was a loan funded five weeks ago."
Emily stared at Daniel.
"Your mother stole two point four million using my house."
Daniel looked like he might be sick.
"Why?"
Emily thought of Margaret's suitcase and sudden escape.
"Because she knew today was coming."
Nora entered the library holding an envelope.
"Mrs. Carter, I found this under Sophie's pillow."
Emily took it.
On the front, in Margaret's handwriting, were four words.
FOR SOPHIE WHEN EMILY FAILS.
Inside was a letter addressed to her daughter.
Emily read the first line and went cold.
YOUR MOTHER WILL TRY TO TURN YOU AGAINST YOUR FATHER.
The second line was worse.
WHEN THAT HAPPENS, REMEMBER THAT I HAVE A PLACE READY FOR YOU.
At the bottom was an address in another state.
Rebecca stared at it.
"That is not a threat."
Emily looked up.
"What is it?"
May you like
Rebecca's face hardened.
"It is evidence she planned to take Sophie."
