Diane tried to remain calm.
But the hand holding her phone was trembling.
Cole began reading.
The longer he read, the colder his expression became.
“Ms. Caldwell.”
“Yes?”
“Would you like to explain why this document was signed three weeks ago?”
Diane swallowed.
“It was an administrative procedure.”
“No.”
Cole turned to the second page.
“This is an emergency authorization to close a public road because of bridge repairs.”
Diane said nothing.
Walter spoke.
“There isn't a bridge anywhere on this road.”
Cole looked at him.
“I know.”
Walter pointed toward the SUV.
“And she used that order to block the entrance to my farm.”
Diane immediately protested.
“He can't prove that.”
Noah stepped forward.
“I can.”
He raised his phone.
“I recorded everything.”
Diane turned sharply toward him.
“Turn that off.”
“No.”
“You don't have the right to record me.”
Walter looked at his grandson.
“Are you standing on our property?”
“Yes.”
“Then keep recording.”
Diane glared at both of them.
“Are you really going to believe an old man and a teenager?”
Walter became silent.
So did Cole.
Then the sheriff answered.
“I'm going to believe the evidence.”
The younger officer examined the gate.
“Sheriff, this padlock is new.”
Cole looked at Diane.
“Do you have the key?”
She didn't answer.
“Ms. Caldwell. Do you have the key?”
This time, his voice was louder.
Slowly, Diane reached into her jacket pocket.
She pulled out a small metal key.
Noah let out a quiet breath.
Walter stared at it.
For three generations, the Hayes family had lived on Millbrook Farm.
Walter's father had grown wheat there. Walter had grown up in the old farmhouse behind the fields. He had married there. He had raised his son there.
After his son died in an accident years ago, Noah had become the one person who remained closest to him.
Millbrook wasn't simply a farm.
It was his family.
And Diane Caldwell had locked it like it was an abandoned building.
Cole reached for the key.
Walter stopped him.
“Wait.”
Everyone looked at him.
Walter removed an old photograph from his clipboard.
“Before you unlock that gate, I want everyone to see this.”
The photograph showed a group of people standing outside the county administration building.
A younger Walter was in the picture.
Beside him stood Diane's father.
Cole took the photograph.
Diane's face turned pale.
“Where did you get that?”
Walter answered quietly.
“From your father's records.”
The air became still.
“Your father was my closest friend.”
Diane looked away.
Walter continued.
“He once helped my family protect this land.”
“Don't talk about my father.”
“Then you know why I have to.”
Diane clenched her jaw.
Walter looked directly into her eyes.
“He knew what happened to the eastern section of this farm.”
Noah frowned.
“What happened?”
Walter didn't answer him.
Cole lowered his voice.
“The eastern section?”
Walter nodded.
“Thirty years ago, part of Millbrook was included in a development proposal.”
Diane immediately spoke.
“That was settled years ago.”
“No.”
Walter replied.
“It was never settled.”
Cole studied her face.
“You knew about this?”
Diane remained silent.
Walter pulled out another stack of documents.
“I didn't just find the road order.”