Chapter 12
The man in the dark suit stopped a few feet away from Karen, towering over her with an imposing posture and an expressionless face. His sunglasses reflected the pale afternoon sunlight, concealing his eyes and adding an unnerving layer of corporate detachment to his demeanor.
"Mrs. Vance, I presume," the man said, his voice smooth, controlled, and devoid of any genuine warmth. "My name is Mr. Vance—no relation, I assure you. I represent the Oak Creek Municipal Development Trust. We understand you made some rather unusual inquiries at the county archives regarding historical property plats from nineteen-eighty-four."
Karen kept her chin up, maintaining steady eye contact despite the intimidating aura he projected. She crossed her arms in a defensive yet resolute posture, echoing the stance both she and Mark had utilized during their earlier altercations. "I am a property owner in this subdivision," she replied evenly. "Reviewing public municipal records regarding my own land boundaries is entirely legal."
"Of course it is," the investigator smiled thinly, a purely academic gesture that didn't reach his eyes. "However, stirring up obsolete disputes over land tracts that were settled decades ago tends to cause unnecessary administrative friction within our community. The town council prefers stability, Mrs. Vance. We advise our residents not to chase ghosts from the past."
"Ghosts tend to refuse to stay buried when they're standing on stolen ground," Karen countered sharply, refusing to back down.
Before the investigator could formulate a response, Mark stepped out of his front door and walked briskly across the asphalt toward them, carrying the heavy brown canvas duffel bag casually over his shoulder. The steel lockbox inside was safely hidden, but the deliberate motion of Mark approaching signaled a united front that disrupted the investigator's calculated intimidation tactics.
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"Is there a problem here, gentlemen?" Mark asked, stepping up beside Karen and resting a reassuring hand on her shoulder. The casual physical contact was a silent confirmation of their partnership—the former adversaries now standing shoulder to shoulder against a common, corrupt adversary.
The investigator looked between them, his professional facade slipping for a fraction of a second as he assessed the unexpected solidarity between the two neighbors. He recognized that intimidation tactics would no longer yield easy compliance. Adjusting his lapel, he took a step back toward his unmarked sedan. "Enjoy your property lines while you still can, folks. The town council takes its municipal continuity very seriously."
