Chapter 9 - THE LAND
My father had owned eighty-seven acres outside the city.
I knew that.
What I didn’t know was that he had transferred the land into Lily’s trust before he died.
Taylor and I drove directly to our attorney’s office.
“What is it worth?” I asked.
He pulled up county records.
“Four years ago?”
He paused.
“Maybe three million.”
“And now?”
His expression changed.
“A technology company purchased the neighboring parcels last year.”
My pulse quickened.
“How much?”
“If they expand…”
He turned the monitor toward us.
“Potentially thirty to forty million dollars.”
Taylor whispered, “Oh my God.”
Now everything made sense.
Four point eight million was enough for greed.
Forty million was enough for obsession.
Richard knew.
Evelyn knew.
And my father had apparently known someone might come after it.
Our attorney opened the original trust agreement.
“There’s a clause here.”
“What clause?”
“If guardianship changes because both parents are declared unfit, temporary administrative authority transfers to the court-approved guardian.”
Evelyn.
“And then?”
“The guardian could negotiate land-use agreements on Lily’s behalf.”
Taylor stared at him.
“So Mom could sell it?”
“Not easily.”
“But Richard could?”
“With the right judge and the right paperwork…”
He didn’t finish.
He didn’t need to.
My phone rang.
Detective Park.
“We found something at Richard’s office.”
“What?”
“A purchase agreement.”
My heart pounded.
“For the land?”
“Yes.”
“Buyer?”
“Northstar Development.”
“When was it signed?”
“Three weeks ago.”
I stood.
“He sold land he didn’t control?”
“He promised delivery after guardianship transferred.”
“For how much?”
Park paused.
“Twenty-two million.”
Taylor closed her eyes.
Richard had already planned the ending.
Get me charged.
Forge Taylor’s support.
Make Evelyn guardian.
Take control of Lily’s assets.
Sell the land.
Disappear with millions.
But one thing went wrong.
Lily survived.
Then another.
The camera recorded everything.
Park continued.
“There’s something else.”
“What?”
“Northstar wired a two-million-dollar advance.”
“To Richard?”
“Not directly.”
“Where?”
“A shell company.”
“Whose?”
Silence.
“Detective?”
“The registered owner is Taylor.”
I slowly turned toward my wife.
She stared at me.
“What?”
Park repeated it.
“A company registered under Taylor Carter’s name received two million dollars.”
Taylor’s face went white.
May you like
“I’ve never owned a company.”
But this time, even I didn’t know what to believe.
