Chapter 3: The Buyer Who Wouldn't Leave
Daniel Reed placed a leather folder on the dining table.
He didn't sit.
Neither did Eric.
Diane remained near the staircase, arms crossed as though refusing to acknowledge that the room was no longer under her control.
I held Emma against my chest.
“What bigger problem?”” I asked.
Daniel opened the folder.
“The buyer was told the property was being sold by Mr. Lawson as the sole owner.””
Eric swallowed.
“Yes.””
“But the title search identified a discrepancy.””
“I was told it was cleared,” Eric said.
Daniel looked at him.
“By whom?””
Eric didn't answer.
Daniel turned a page.
“The recorded deed names Megan Lawson as the sole owner.””
Diane scoffed.
“That must be outdated.””
Daniel looked at her.
“It was recorded six years ago.””
Silence.
I felt my heartbeat slow.
Six years ago.
My father's attorney had transferred the property into my name after my father's estate closed.
I remembered sitting in his office.
I remembered the thick envelope.
I remembered my father's handwriting on a note tucked inside.
Keep this house. It is the one thing I know can never abandon you.
At the time, I had cried.
I hadn't understood how prophetic those words would become.
Daniel continued.
“The buyer is prepared to walk away.””
Eric's head snapped up.
“No.””
“Yes.””
“You can't do that.””
“The buyer can absolutely terminate a transaction involving a seller who lacks authority.””
Eric stepped closer.
“People have already been paid.””
“Then you should discuss that with the people who received the money.””
My eyes moved to Eric.
“Who received the money?””
He looked away.
I stood.
“Eric.””
He didn't respond.
“Who received the money?””
Diane spoke.
“It was used for legitimate family expenses.””
“What family?””
“Our family.””
“No.””
I looked at her.
“You mean your debts.””
She stiffened.
Eric whispered, “Mom.””
Daniel closed the folder.
“There is another issue.””
“What?”” Eric asked.
“The buyer's deposit was transferred to an escrow account.””
Eric exhaled.
“So?””
“So the transfer instructions came from an email address associated with Mrs. Lawson.””
My blood went cold.
“What?””
Daniel looked at me.
“Your email.””
“I didn't send anything.””
“I know.””
Eric turned toward me.
“What do you mean, you know?””
Daniel's voice remained calm.
“The message was sent from a device that appears to have been located at this residence.””
Diane's face went blank.
I looked at Eric.
Then at the house.
Then at my phone.
“Someone used my account.””
Eric immediately said, “That's impossible.””
“Why?””
“Because you had your phone at the hospital.””
“Yes.””
“And you weren't here.””
“No.””
“So—”
“Someone had access to my laptop.””
He went silent.
I remembered.
My laptop.
It had been sitting in the home office.
I had left it there the morning I went into labor.
“Who knew my password?”” I asked.
Eric said nothing.
Diane looked at him.
I understood.
“You did.””
“No.””
“You knew my password.””
“It was your daughter's birthday.””
“Emma wasn't born yet.””
His face changed.
I felt something inside me snap.
“Then how did you know?””
He rubbed his mouth.
“I guessed.””
Daniel slowly closed the folder.
“I suggest everyone stop speaking casually about electronic communications until counsel is present.””
I looked at him.
“Can you prove someone used my account?””
“We can preserve the records.””
“Will you?””
“Yes.””
Eric stepped forward.
“Daniel, don't do this.””
Daniel stared at him.
“I'm not doing anything to you, Mr. Lawson. I'm protecting my client.””
“Your client doesn't own the property.””
“Correct.””
Eric's face went red.
“Then why are you here?””
“To notify your wife that the buyer is withdrawing from the transaction.””
I exhaled.
The house was still mine.
But that didn't answer the biggest question.
Why had Eric been so confident?
He hadn't simply made a careless mistake.
He had signed contracts.
He had accepted money.
He had promised possession.
Someone had given him information.
Someone had convinced him that my ownership could be erased.
And I suddenly knew exactly who that someone was.
I looked at Diane.
“You told him the house would become his.””
She stared back.
“I told him what your father intended.””
“My father never said that.””
“You weren't there for every conversation.””
“I was his daughter.””
“And I was his business partner.””
I froze.
“What did you just say?””
Diane's mouth closed.
Eric turned toward her.
“Mom.””
She shook her head.
“That's not what I meant.””
Daniel looked interested now.
“Business partner?””
Diane ignored him.
I stepped closer.
“My father had no business partner named Diane.””
“You don't know everything about your father's affairs.””
“Apparently not.””
She smiled.
It wasn't a kind smile.
“You should ask yourself why your father trusted Eric with so much.””
Eric stared at her.
“What are you talking about?””
Diane didn't answer.
Daniel gathered his papers.
“I'll be leaving.””
I nodded.
“Before you go, can you send me copies of everything?””
“Yes.””
“Everything?””
“Yes.””
“Including the payment records?””
Daniel hesitated.
Then nodded.
“I'll send what I'm legally permitted to provide.””
After he left, Eric remained standing by the door.
I watched him.
“You lied to me.””
He looked at me.
“I panicked.””
“You lied.””
“I was trying to fix things.””
“You tried to sell my home.””
“I thought it was mine.””
“Why?””
He looked toward his mother.
I followed his eyes.
Diane had gone pale.
Then her phone buzzed.
She looked at the screen.
She read the message.
And for the first time since I'd known her, Diane looked genuinely frightened.
“What is it?”” Eric asked.
She locked the phone.
“Nothing.””
I held out my hand.
“Give me the phone.””
“No.””
“Then read the message aloud.””
She backed away.
Eric stared at her.
“Mom?””
Diane's phone buzzed again.
This time, a preview appeared on the screen.
I saw only one line.
*THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT WAS NEVER DESTROYED.*
May you like
And beneath it was a name.
My father's name.
