Chapter 6 - The Woman They Tried to Silence
Sean moved toward Lena so quickly that she instinctively stepped back.
“Get out,” he said.
His voice was low, but the fury in it made the room feel suddenly smaller.
Lena didn't move.
“I'm here because Rachel asked me to come.”
“I fired you for a reason.”
“Yes,” Lena replied. “Because I refused to approve documents you knew were fraudulent.”
Alex stared at them.
“Fraudulent?”
Nancy stood abruptly.
“Lena, whatever problem you have with Sean's company has nothing to do with us.”
Lena turned toward her.
“That's interesting, Nancy, because your name appears on almost every document I'm carrying.”
Nancy's face drained of color.
I closed the front door.
“Everybody sit down.”
Nobody moved.
I repeated myself.
“Sit. Down.”
For once, Sean obeyed.
Lena placed the folder on the coffee table and carefully removed several documents.
The first was a proposed purchase agreement.
The buyer was Hawthorne Development, a regional real estate company.
The property was Willow House.
The proposed sale price was $640,000.
My mouth went dry.
Six hundred and forty thousand dollars.
Someone had placed a price on my mother's memories without even asking me.
Sean stared at the document.
“That's an old proposal.”
Lena turned another page.
“Then why does the updated version show a closing date of Monday at nine o'clock?”
Alex leaned forward.
“Sean, are you selling Rachel's property?”
Sean rubbed his face.
“It's complicated.”
“No,” I said. “It's actually very simple. Did you put my mother's house up for sale?”
Sean looked at me.
“Rachel, the property needs repairs. You barely use it.”
I felt something crack inside my chest.
“That's not what I asked.”
He looked away.
Lena continued.
“Willow Heritage Holdings was established to receive consulting and development payments connected to the property transaction.”
She pointed to the company's ownership records.
“Nancy Reed is listed as its managing member.”
Alex turned slowly toward his wife.
“Nancy?”
She crossed her arms.
“It's a business investment.”
“With Rachel's house?” Alex demanded.
Nancy's lips tightened.
Lena removed another document.
“This is the special power of attorney Sean submitted to authorize the property sale.”
I looked at the signature.
It was mine.
Or rather, an imitation of mine.
Below it was a notary's seal.
Sean spoke quickly.
“Rachel signed paperwork months ago. She probably forgot.”
I laughed.
It was a terrible, hollow sound.
“Forgot? You think I forgot authorizing you to sell my mother's house?”
“You sign documents all the time.”
“Not documents involving the last thing she left me.”
Lena leaned forward.
“Rachel, the document isn't the only problem. Sean also applied for financing using Willow House as security.”
I turned toward her.
“What financing?”
“A construction loan connected to Bennett Renovations. The approved amount was $180,000.”
I stared at Sean.
He had never mentioned a loan.
He had never told me the company was in serious financial trouble.
And he certainly had never asked permission to use my inherited property as collateral.
“Sean,” I whispered, “what have you done?”
He rubbed his forehead.
“Things have been difficult at work.”
“Then why didn't you tell me?”
“Because you wouldn't understand.”
I stood.
“Try me.”
He said nothing.
Lena began arranging the documents in chronological order.
“Sean's company lost two major contracts. Several projects were over budget. By the beginning of the summer, he was struggling to cover payroll and outstanding loans.”
Alex looked genuinely shocked.
“Sean, you've been telling everyone the business was expanding.”
“I didn't want people panicking.”
Lena continued.
“Sean and Nancy began discussing ways to raise money. At first, they considered selling a commercial property. Then they started discussing Willow House.”
Nancy shook her head.
“That's not how it happened.”
Lena looked directly at her.
“Then explain why you emailed me the proposed transfer documents.”
Silence.
I turned toward Nancy.
For twelve years, she had called herself my sister.
Now she sat in my living room, unable to meet my eyes.
“Did you know about this?” I asked.
“Rachel—”
“Did you know they were using my house?”
Nancy swallowed.
“Yes.”
One word.
One devastating word.
I could barely breathe.
Alex looked at her as though she were a stranger.
Then Lena removed a final page.
“This document was intended to establish that both couples had voluntarily agreed to a temporary household separation.”
I saw Sean's signature.
Nancy's signature.
Then I saw another name.
Alex Reed.
Alex leaned forward, examining the page.
His expression changed.
“Wait.”
He picked up the document.
“This isn't right.”
Nancy reached toward him.
“Alex, please—”
He pulled the paper away.
“I never signed this.”
The room went completely silent.
Lena looked at him gravely.
“Then, Alex, you're not just a witness to what happened.”
She paused.
May you like
“You may be another victim.”
And suddenly, I realized Sean and Nancy had been preparing more than one betrayal.
