Chapter 4 - Seven Days to Leave.
Rachel crossed Harper Lane before Evelyn could tell her not to come.
Two men in reflective vests stood near the front hedge taking measurements with a laser tool.
A white pickup truck with a Northpoint Residential Holdings logo was parked at the curb.
Rachel raised her phone and began recording.
"Who authorized you to enter this property?"
One man lowered his measuring device.
"We're doing an exterior assessment."
"For whom?"
"Northpoint."
"Show me the work order."
The second man looked toward the house.
Evelyn stood behind the screen door with both arms wrapped around herself.
Chloe was nowhere in sight.
The first man produced a digital tablet.
"Ma'am, we don't handle ownership questions."
"Then you can stop measuring until the ownership question is settled."
"We were told the transfer closed yesterday."
Rachel's anger sharpened.
"It did not."
"Our system says it did."
"Your system is wrong."
The man sighed.
"You'll need to contact the office."
Rachel photographed the work-order number and the truck plate.
Then she stood in the middle of the walkway until both men returned to their vehicle.
They left without arguing further.
Evelyn opened the door only after the truck disappeared.
Her expression remained guarded.
"The officers said you shouldn't be here."
"They said I shouldn't confront anyone."
Rachel stepped inside.
Her eyes immediately went to the spot where the skillet had landed the day before.
It was gone.
"Where's Chloe?"
"She went out."
"With Grant?"
Evelyn's mouth tightened.
"I don't know."
Rachel placed her phone on the dining table and opened Nora's video.
"Then you need to see this."
Evelyn watched Grant arrive Monday night.
She watched Chloe let him inside.
She watched him leave carrying Rachel's laptop.
By the time the video ended, Evelyn had lowered herself slowly into a chair.
"He told me you gave him that computer."
"Why would I give my mother's attorney my work laptop at midnight?"
Evelyn stared at the table.
"He said you asked him to prepare the sale documents."
"And Chloe?"
"She said she heard you talking about moving me into a smaller place."
Rachel felt a familiar ache behind her ribs.
"I said this house is too much work for you alone."
"That's not the same thing."
"Exactly."
Evelyn pressed both palms against her forehead.
"I don't understand."
Rachel sat across from her.
"That's what somebody is counting on."
Evelyn looked up with tears in her eyes.
"Don't."
"Don't what?"
"Don't make me feel stupid."
Rachel's anger disappeared.
"I'm not."
"I should have known."
"You trusted someone Thomas trusted."
"And I threw a skillet at my daughter."
Rachel was silent.
Evelyn covered her mouth.
"I could have hurt you."
"You didn't."
"That doesn't make it better."
Rachel wanted to say she forgave her.
She could not say it yet.
The fear had been too real.
Instead she reached across the table and turned Evelyn's phone toward her.
"Call Grant."
Evelyn stared at the screen.
"What do I say?"
"Tell him the Northpoint people came."
"And then?"
"Listen."
Evelyn called.
Grant answered on the second ring.
His voice was smooth and concerned.
"Evelyn, are you all right?"
"Two men came to measure the house."
"I expected they might."
Rachel's eyes narrowed.
Evelyn swallowed.
"They said I have to leave."
"Not if Rachel cooperates."
Rachel wrote the words on a napkin.
KEEP HIM TALKING.
Evelyn continued.
"What does Rachel have to do?"
"Sign the final release and return the disputed funds."
Rachel shook her head emphatically.
Evelyn's voice trembled.
"She says she didn't take them."
There was a brief silence.
Grant's tone cooled.
"Is Rachel there?"
Evelyn looked at her daughter.
Rachel shook her head again.
"No."
Grant waited.
"Evelyn, you need to be very careful."
"Why?"
"Because she may try to manipulate you now that she knows the police are involved."
Rachel clenched her jaw.
"You told me she wanted to sell the house."
"She does."
"Then why did Northpoint say the house already belongs to them?"
Grant paused too long.
"Administrative language."
Rachel nearly laughed.
Evelyn did not.
"I want a copy of everything I signed."
"Of course."
"Today."
Grant's voice became softer.
"Evelyn, I think you should rest."
"I asked for my documents."
Another pause.
"I'll bring them by this evening."
He ended the call.
Rachel and Evelyn stared at each other.
"He's coming here," Evelyn whispered.
"Good."
"You can't be here."
"I won't be."
Rachel stood and walked toward the front window.
Nora's house was directly across the street.
"But we're going to record every word he says."
Evelyn hesitated.
"Is that legal?"
"We'll let the police decide what they can use."
Evelyn nodded slowly.
Then they heard the front door open behind them.
Chloe walked in carrying a paper shopping bag.
She stopped when she saw Rachel.
Her face changed immediately.
"What are you doing here?"
Rachel held up her phone.
"Watching you let Grant into this house at midnight."
The bag slipped slightly in Chloe's hand.
Evelyn turned toward her younger daughter.
"Chloe, tell me the truth."
Chloe looked from her mother to Rachel.
For a moment, she seemed ready to speak.
Then her phone buzzed.
She glanced down.
Rachel saw only two words on the screen before Chloe turned it away.
GRANT VOSS.
Chloe went pale.
She backed toward the door.
"I can't do this."
Evelyn stood.
"Can't do what?"
Chloe's eyes filled with panic.
"You don't understand what he has."
Rachel stepped closer.
"What does he have?"
Chloe shook her head.
"Everything."
Then she ran out of the house.
Rachel rushed to the porch.
A dark gray sedan waited at the end of the block.
Chloe climbed into the passenger seat.
The car sped away.
Evelyn came up behind Rachel.
"Was that Grant?"
Rachel watched the sedan disappear around the corner.
"Yes."
Her phone buzzed.
A new email had arrived from an unknown sender.
The subject line contained only her full name.
Rachel opened it.
There was one attachment.
A photograph of Evelyn signing a document at the dining table.
Grant stood beside her.
Chloe stood behind the camera.
May you like
Under the photograph was a single sentence.
KEEP PUSHING, AND YOUR MOTHER LOSES MORE THAN THE HOUSE.
