Chapter 7 - The Men at the Door
The doorbell rang at 12:47 a.m.
Melissa rushed downstairs before I could move.
She was no longer sleepy.
She looked prepared.
That told me she had been expecting them.
Two men stood outside.
Both wore dark jackets.
Neither smiled.
The older one introduced himself as Victor Kane.
Melissa immediately stepped onto the porch and pulled the door mostly closed.
I stayed in the hallway where she couldn't see me.
Their voices were low.
But the house was quiet.
I heard enough.
“You said Monday.”
“I know.”
“Monday became Friday.”
“I have the appraisal.”
“That wasn't our agreement.”
“The money is coming.”
Victor's voice remained calm.
“You've been saying that for three months.”
Melissa whispered something I couldn't hear.
Then Victor answered.
“If the property isn't yours, you shouldn't have offered it as security.”
My stomach tightened.
So that was it.
Melissa had already promised my house to someone.
I stepped backward before she came inside.
Ten minutes later, she found me in the kitchen.
“You're still awake?”
“Jet lag.”
She opened the refrigerator.
“Those were business associates.”
“I didn't ask.”
Her hand froze.
Then she laughed.
“Good.”
Derek came downstairs after they left.
He looked worse than before.
“Who is Victor Kane?”
Melissa spun around.
“How do you know that name?”
Derek ignored her.
“Rachel, go upstairs.”
“No.”
Melissa pointed at him.
“You told her?”
“Told me what?”
Neither answered.
I leaned against the counter.
“I've already heard enough.”
Melissa's face changed.
“Were you spying on me?”
“You were negotiating over my mother's home at one in the morning.”
She laughed bitterly.
“Your mother's home?”
“Yes.”
“That's interesting.”
She walked closer.
“Because your mother signed paperwork giving Derek control.”
“My mother says she didn't.”
“She's confused.”
“She's not.”
“Rachel, you've been gone for years.”
“You keep saying that like absence makes fraud legal.”
That hit her.
Her eyes sharpened.
Derek stepped between us.
“Stop.”
Melissa shoved his shoulder.
“You stop.”
She pointed at me.
“She comes back after six years and suddenly everyone acts like she's a hero.”
“I don't want to be a hero.”
“Then leave.”
“No.”
Her voice rose.
“This is my house.”
I looked at her.
For the first time, I almost told her.
Instead, I asked one question.
“Can you prove it?”
She smiled.
“Absolutely.”
She went upstairs.
When she returned, she carried another folder.
She removed a document and placed it on the counter.
It appeared to be a property deed.
Derek and Melissa were listed as owners.
I studied it carefully.
Then I noticed the recording information.
It looked official.
Almost.
Caroline had told me the transfer had not been completed.
This document claimed otherwise.
“Where did you get this?”
“County records.”
“No.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“What do you mean, no?”
“I mean this isn't what you think it is.”
She snatched it back.
“You're a nurse, Rachel.”
“Stay in your lane.”
I smiled.
“Gladly.”
I went upstairs.
Then I sent a photograph of the document to Caroline.
Her response came five minutes later.
THIS IS NOT A RECORDED DEED.
IT'S A FABRICATED COPY.
CALL POLICE IF YOU FEEL UNSAFE.
Then another message appeared.
And one more thing.
The document number belongs to a completely different property.
Melissa had not simply forged signatures.
May you like
She had built an entire fake ownership history.
The question was why Derek still looked more frightened of Victor Kane than he did of prison.
