Chapter 2: The Woman at the Gate
My mother hadn't visited the mansion in eleven months.
She had called twice that week, but both times Marcus had answered my phone while I was cooking or showering.
He always had an excuse.
“She wanted to know how we were doing.””
“She was asking about Christmas.””
“She said she'd call back.””
I had never questioned it.
Now, watching her stand outside my gate on the security monitor, I wondered how many other things I had failed to question.
“Open the gate,” Marcus said.
I stared at him.
“You just told me you couldn't be locked out.””
“Your mother needs to come inside.””
“That's not what I asked.””
He rubbed water from his beard with the towel.
“Lauren, this isn't the time.””
“Then tell me when the time is.””
Brianna stood near the pool, looking increasingly uncomfortable.
“I think I'm going to leave,” she said.
Marcus spun toward her.
“You're not going anywhere until we sort this out.””
She laughed bitterly.
“Excuse me?””
“You heard me.””
I stepped between them.
“She's free to leave.””
Marcus pointed at me.
“Don't start acting like you control everything.””
I looked at him for several seconds.
Then I pressed the gate release.
My mother's silver SUV rolled slowly up the driveway.
When she stepped out, she was carrying a leather handbag and wearing the same expression she used whenever she had decided something unpleasant was necessary.
She looked at the groceries scattered across the patio.
Then at Brianna.
Then at Marcus.
“Oh,” she said quietly.
“You found out.””
Those three words landed harder than the kiss.
I stared at her.
“Found out what?””
My mother, Elaine, walked past me without answering.
Marcus approached her immediately.
“Elaine, thank God you're here.””
She raised one hand.
“Don't.””
He stopped.
She placed her handbag on the outdoor table and looked at the security panel.
“Did you activate the emergency protocol?””
I nodded.
“Why does the system show another property owner?””
My mother closed her eyes.
For a moment, she looked older than I had ever seen her.
Then she opened her handbag and removed a thick manila envelope.
“Because someone filed documents six months ago claiming ownership rights over this property.””
I felt the patio tilt beneath my feet.
“Who?””
She looked at Marcus.
“He did.””
Marcus shook his head.
“That's not what happened.””
My mother pulled out a document.
“Your daughter inherited this property from her grandmother. The deed is clear. The estate transfer is clear. But someone submitted a notarized document claiming Lauren had granted him authority to manage and refinance the property.””
I looked at Marcus.
“You told me you were handling the insurance paperwork.””
He nodded too quickly.
“That was different.””
“Was it?””
My mother continued.
“The filing included a limited power of attorney. It was supposedly signed by Lauren and witnessed by a notary.””
I took the document.
My signature appeared near the bottom.
It looked almost perfect.
Almost.
The capital L was too narrow. The final stroke in my surname was too long.
Someone had copied my signature from another document.
“This isn't mine.””
“I know,” my mother said.
Marcus stepped forward.
“Elaine, please don't make this worse.””
My mother turned toward him.
“You should have thought about that before you started using her inheritance as collateral.””
I stared at the papers.
“Collateral for what?””
Neither answered.
I looked at Marcus.
“What did you borrow money for?””
He rubbed his forehead.
“It's a business matter.””
“What business?””
“Lauren, please.””
I raised the document.
“You forged my signature?””
“No! I didn't forge anything.””
My mother gave a short, humorless laugh.
“Then why did the bank call my attorney?””
Marcus's jaw tightened.
The silence was enough.
I looked at Brianna.
She was staring at the documents now.
“You told me you owned this house,” she whispered.
Marcus ignored her.
“Lauren, I was trying to protect our future.””
“Our future?””
“Yes. I had investments. I needed temporary financing. The property was just security.””
“You used my house?””
“I was going to pay everything back.””
“When?””
He looked away.
My mother reached into her handbag again.
“There is something else.””
She removed a smaller envelope and placed it on the table.
Inside was a letter from a law firm.
I recognized the name.
Harrison, Cole & Whitmore.
They had handled the original transfer of my grandmother's estate.
The letter stated that an attempted refinancing application had been submitted against the property.
The application had been rejected pending verification of the owner's identity.
I read it twice.
Then I noticed the date.
Six months earlier.
I looked at Marcus.
“You've been doing this for six months?””
He spread his hands.
“I was going to tell you.””
“When?””
“When everything was settled.””
Brianna suddenly spoke.
“That's not what you told me.””
Marcus glared at her.
“Stay out of this.””
“You told me the bank was already approving the loan!””
My mother looked at her.
“What loan?””
Brianna hesitated.
Then she pulled her phone from the pocket of her cover-up.
“I have messages.””
Marcus took a step toward her.
“Don't.””
She moved backward.
“I have screenshots of everything.””
He stared at her.
“Brianna, think very carefully.””
She looked at me.
“I didn't know he was lying about the house. I swear I didn't.””
I believed she was frightened.
I wasn't ready to believe she was innocent.
My mother took the phone and examined the messages.
Her expression grew darker with every swipe.
Finally, she looked up.
“Lauren, I think you need to call your attorney.””
“Why?””
She turned the phone toward me.
A message from Marcus was displayed.
*Once the transfer is complete, Lauren won't have any say in what happens to the property. She'll never know until it's too late.*
My hands went cold.
There was another message beneath it.
*The money has to move before the end of the month.*
I looked at the date.
It had been sent three days ago.
Marcus stepped forward.
“That's out of context.””
My mother placed the phone on the table.
“No, Marcus. I think we're finally getting the context.””
Then the security panel beeped again.
A new notification appeared.
*UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS ATTEMPT — MAIN HOUSE OFFICE.*
I looked toward the glass doors.
Someone was inside.
May you like
Someone who had just tried to open my private office.
And Marcus wasn't the only person who had a key.
