Chapter 5: The Man Who Wanted Their Home
Darnell read the message three times.
"When the family will be out?""
Corey nodded.
"That's what it says.""
Simone took the phone.
"Have you been talking to Marcus?""
"Not really.""
"Then why is he messaging you?""
Corey shifted uncomfortably.
"Mom asked me to help with a few things.""
"What things?""
He looked toward the office.
"Nothing major.""
"Corey.""
He sighed.
"She asked me to take pictures of the storage room and the upstairs bedrooms. She said she needed measurements for renovations.""
Simone stared at him.
"Renovations?""
"That's what she told me.""
Darnell's face darkened.
"She asked you to photograph the house?""
Corey nodded.
"She said a contractor might need them.""
Simone took a slow breath.
"Did you send the pictures to Marcus?""
Corey looked down.
"Yes.""
Darnell pulled out a chair and sat.
For a moment, the only sound in the diner was the refrigerator humming behind the counter.
"Son," he said quietly, "what exactly have you helped your mother do?""
Corey's eyes widened.
"I didn't know she was selling the place!""
"Did she tell you she was?""
"No!""
Simone put the phone down.
"Then why didn't you ask why a stranger needed pictures of our bedrooms?""
Corey rubbed the back of his neck.
"Because Mom said it was for the business.""
"Everything is apparently for the business.""
"Can you stop?""
"No, Corey. I can't.""
He looked at his sister.
"You always think I get everything handed to me.""
Simone stared at him.
"Don't turn this into an argument about us.""
"That's exactly what it is. Mom says you want to leave. Dad says you're the only one who helps. Now everybody's acting like I'm stupid.""
Darnell interrupted.
"Nobody called you stupid.""
Corey looked away.
Darnell's voice softened.
"But you need to understand something. If you gave someone access to information about this property, we need to know what you shared.""
Corey sat down.
"I sent six pictures. The upstairs hallway, the bedrooms, the kitchen, the storage room, and the back entrance.""
Simone frowned.
"The back entrance?""
"Marcus asked whether there was another way into the building.""
Darnell stood abruptly.
"Why?""
"I don't know!""
Simone looked at the message again.
The buyer wanted the keys tomorrow morning.
He wanted to know when the family would be out.
And he had already been given pictures of the building.
This wasn't a casual conversation.
It was a plan.
Darnell picked up his phone.
"I'm calling a lawyer.""
Beverly opened the office door.
"Who are you calling?""
Darnell turned.
"A lawyer.""
Her eyes moved to the phone in his hand.
"Why?""
"Because someone has signed my name to a property sale.""
Beverly rolled her eyes.
"You're making a mistake.""
"Then let a lawyer explain it.""
She stepped into the dining area.
"Do you have any idea how much money we're losing every month?""
Darnell looked at her.
"Tell me the number.""
Beverly hesitated.
"That's not the point.""
"Tell me.""
She grabbed a napkin from the counter and began folding it.
"Twenty thousand.""
Simone frowned.
"Twenty thousand what?""
"Twenty thousand dollars.""
"Monthly?""
Beverly nodded.
"Between expenses, debt, and everything else.""
Simone looked at Darnell.
He seemed just as confused.
"The accounts don't show that.""
Beverly's fingers tightened around the napkin.
"Because I moved money around.""
Darnell took a step toward her.
"How much debt are we carrying?""
"Enough.""
"How much?""
Beverly slammed the napkin onto the counter.
"Forty-eight thousand!""
Corey stood.
"What?""
"Forty-eight thousand dollars," Beverly repeated.
"The suppliers are demanding payment. The equipment needs repairs. The bank has been calling.""
Darnell closed his eyes.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because you would have panicked.""
"That's my business too!""
Beverly pointed toward the dining area.
"Look around! Half these tables are empty. Customers are spending less.
The building needs repairs. I was trying to save us.""
Simone looked at the invoices.
Some of the amounts were familiar.
Others weren't.
She picked up a statement.
"Mom, this invoice says we paid Westbridge Consulting twelve thousand dollars.""
Beverly snatched it away.
"That's a legitimate company.""
"Then what did they do?""
"They provided financial services.""
"Where's the contract?""
"Stop questioning everything!""
Simone noticed the address printed beneath the company's name.
It was a post office box.
She searched the company name on her phone.
A business listing appeared, but there was very little information.
No website.
No visible office.
No employee names.
Just a registration date from the previous year.
She turned the screen toward Darnell.
"Have you ever heard of this company?""
He shook his head.
Beverly looked away.
That was enough to make Simone suspicious.
Darnell called the lawyer whose number was printed on an old business card.
After a brief conversation, he explained the situation.
The lawyer, Mr. Harris, agreed to meet them that afternoon.
Before they could leave, Beverly stepped between Darnell and the front door.
"You're not going anywhere with those documents.""
Darnell stared at her.
"Move.""
"This is my business too.""
"Then come with us and explain everything.""
Beverly shook her head.
"I don't need a lawyer.""
"Then you have nothing to worry about.""
She moved aside.
But as Simone passed, Beverly caught her wrist.
"You did this.""
Simone pulled away.
"I didn't sign Dad's name.""
"You started this the moment you decided to leave.""
"Mom, my interview has nothing to do with this.""
"Everything has to do with this family!""
Simone looked directly at her.
"Then why are you trying to sell our home without telling us?""
Beverly released her wrist.
For once, she had no immediate answer.
At two that afternoon, Simone and Darnell sat across from Mr. Harris in a small office above a pharmacy.
The lawyer examined the sale agreement, the deed, and the bank statements.
He asked several questions.
Darnell answered each one carefully.
When he reached the signature page, Mr. Harris put on his glasses.
"Mr. Carter, did you sign this document?""
"No.""
"Did you authorize anyone to sign it on your behalf?""
"No.""
"Did you give your wife power of attorney?""
Darnell shook his head.
Mr. Harris leaned back.
"Then we have a serious issue.""
Simone leaned forward.
"Can the sale be stopped?""
"That depends on where the transaction stands. We need to contact the title company immediately, verify what documents have been submitted, and establish whether anyone has attempted to use a forged signature.""
He picked up the bank statements.
"And I want a complete record of every transfer to Westbridge Consulting.""
Darnell nodded.
Mr. Harris looked at Simone.
"Do you have copies of the messages between your mother and this buyer?""
Simone handed him the photographs.
He read them.
Then his expression changed.
"Did your brother send these photographs of the property?""
"Yes," Simone answered.
"Then I want those preserved too.""
He reached for his phone.
"I'll make a few calls.""
A few minutes later, he returned.
"The title company has confirmed that a transfer package was submitted. The closing is scheduled for tomorrow morning.""
Darnell gripped the arms of his chair.
"Can they do that without me?""
Mr. Harris looked at him.
"They shouldn't be able to complete a legitimate transfer without the required authorization. But we need to act quickly.""
Simone felt her stomach tighten.
"Who is the buyer?""
Mr. Harris turned the sale agreement around.
He pointed to the company listed on the first page.
"Marcus Holdings LLC.""
Simone looked at the name.
Corey's contact.
Beverly's business partner.
The man who wanted their keys.
Mr. Harris picked up another document.
"This is interesting.""
"What?"" Darnell asked.
"The registered owner of Marcus Holdings LLC.""
He turned the page.
Simone read the name.
Then she looked at her father.
It wasn't a stranger.
It was someone they had known for years.
Someone who had eaten at their diner.
May you like
Someone who had sat at their family table.
And someone who had apparently been planning to take it away.
