Eli’s jaw tightened.
“Don’t use the word frighten after sending men to her door twice.”
“I’m not threatening anyone.”
“No,” Dana said. “You’re trying to make her doubt her own daughter.”
Lauren turned to the deputy.
“We have witnesses that Mrs. Harper has become confused and aggressive.”
Deputy Holloway’s face changed slightly.
“Who are your witnesses?”
Mr. Callahan removed a page from his folder.
“Several neighbors reported that she has been wandering outside at night and accusing contractors of stealing from her.”
I felt the blood drain from my face.
“That’s a lie.”
“Is it?” Lauren asked.
“I have never accused anyone of stealing.”
“Your neighbor, Mrs. Bell, reported that you confronted a roofing crew last month.”
“The crew was measuring my porch without permission.”
“They were there for an estimate.”
“I never called them.”
Dana snatched the page from Mr. Callahan before he could pull it away.
“This is not a witness statement,” she said. “It’s an unsigned summary.”
“It was provided to our office.”
“By whom?”
Mr. Callahan did not answer.
Nate stepped down from the porch.
“Ma’am, where is the nearest camera?”
Deputy Holloway looked at him.
“Stay where you are.”
“I’m not moving toward anyone. I’m asking about the neighbor’s camera.”
Dana scanned the road.
“Mrs. Bell’s property is the white farmhouse east of here?”
“Yes,” I said. “She has a camera facing the road.”
Eli raised his phone.
“I can ask her for the footage.”
“No,” Deputy Holloway said. “Do not go onto her property without permission.”
“I’ll call her.”
“Do that.”
Eli moved to the side of the porch and dialed. While he spoke, I watched Lauren study the house. Her gaze stopped at the brass hook by the door, at Daniel’s jacket, then at the blue ceramic bird lying on its side near the steps.
She had seen the photograph.
She had studied my home.
The thought made my skin crawl.
My phone began to ring.
The screen showed Claire’s name.
I answered so quickly that I nearly dropped it.
“Mom?” Claire said. Her voice was breathless. “Are you all right?”
I looked directly at Lauren.
“Are you in Millbrook?”
“What? No. I’m at O’Hare. I’m trying to get a flight, but the weather is delaying everything. Why?”
“There’s a woman here who says you gave Northstar permission to sell the house.”
Claire went silent.
Then she said, “What woman?”
“Her name is Lauren Pierce.”
“I don’t know anyone named Lauren Pierce.”
Lauren’s face went still.
I put the call on speaker.
Claire continued, “Mom, I never signed a power of attorney. I never authorized anyone to sell the house. I told you this morning I was trying to help you.”
“They have a copy of your license and a signed authorization.”
“They have what?”
Dana moved closer to the phone.
“Claire, this is Dana Whitaker. Did you send anyone a copy of your driver’s license recently?”
“No. Wait.” Claire’s breathing became quicker. “I applied for a remote project-management position three weeks ago. The company asked for identification before scheduling an interview, but I didn’t send it. I told them I would provide it through a secure portal.”
“What was the company called?” Dana asked.
“Heritage Home Services.”
The porch seemed to tilt beneath my feet.
Claire’s voice broke.
“Mom, I’m sorry. I thought it was a job recruiter. They had my résumé and knew details about your house because I listed you as an emergency contact.”
Dana looked at the document in Deputy Holloway’s hand.
“Did you sign anything during that process?”
“No.”
“Did you type your name into any online form?”
“I filled out an employment questionnaire. It asked whether I had permission to speak for a family member in an emergency. I checked no.”
Lauren took one step backward.
Cole noticed.
“Don’t leave yet,” he said.
Deputy Holloway raised a hand.
“Everyone stay calm.”
Dana looked at Lauren.
“Where did Northstar obtain Claire’s identification?”
Lauren said nothing.
Mr. Callahan’s confidence had vanished. He reached for his phone again, but Deputy Holloway stopped him.
“Sir, put the phone away for a moment.”
“This is private company information.”
“You are standing at a disputed property with documents that may be fraudulent. I’m asking questions.”
Dana pointed to the authorization.
“The signature is not Claire’s. The copy of the license likely came from the fake recruiting operation she just described. And the property document uses a notary commission number belonging to someone else.”
Deputy Holloway looked at Lauren.
“Did you know the notary information was inconsistent?”
“I received the paperwork from our processing department.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
Lauren’s lips parted, but no answer came.
For the first time, she looked afraid.
Not guilty. Not yet.
Afraid.
A sheriff’s second vehicle appeared at the end of the road. This deputy was older, with a broad face and a gray mustache. He spoke briefly with Deputy Holloway, then approached Dana.
“Ma’am, the recorder’s office called,” he said. “They reviewed the filing number.”
“What did they say?”
“The instrument was accepted into the system, but the underlying scan has been flagged for irregularities.”
My breath caught.
“What does that mean?” I asked.
“It means the county is not canceling the recording today,” he said. “But they are placing a fraud hold on any further transfer.”
Dana exhaled slowly.
“Can Northstar still claim possession?”
“Not without a court order.”
Mr. Callahan immediately stepped forward.
“We have a scheduled emergency hearing tomorrow morning.”
Dana turned to him.
“You filed one already?”
“Our counsel filed for temporary possession.”
I felt a sudden wave of relief, but it disappeared when the older deputy continued.
“The hearing is at eight thirty. Until then, nobody is being removed from the home. But the property dispute remains active.”
“Active?” I repeated.
He nodded.
“If a judge grants their request tomorrow, the situation changes. If the judge denies it, the company may still pursue a civil case.”
My house had not been saved.
It had only been given another night.
Lauren looked at me with an expression that seemed almost sympathetic.
“Your daughter’s identity may have been misused,” she said. “That doesn’t prove Northstar knew anything about it.”
“Then why did you bring a false authorization to my porch?” Cole asked.
“I brought what was in our file.”
“And why did you bring a photograph of Claire?”
“To reassure Mrs. Harper that her family was involved.”
“You knew she wasn’t here.”
Lauren’s eyes flickered toward me.
“I knew she had been in contact with the company.”
Dana stepped between them.
“That is enough. Deputy, I want every document preserved as evidence.”
Mr. Callahan gave a short laugh.
“You’re treating a clerical discrepancy like a criminal case.”
“No,” Dana replied. “I’m treating a disputed transfer involving an elderly homeowner as a matter requiring careful investigation.”
The older deputy took the papers from Deputy Holloway and placed them into a clear evidence sleeve.
“Mr. Callahan, you and your associates need to leave the property.”
“What about our equipment?”