Chapter 7: The Buyers Were Already on Their Way
"Your son has already signed the final papers, Margaret. You should ask him what happens when the new owners arrive tomorrow.""
I read the message again.
Then I handed my phone to Thomas.
He examined the photograph, enlarged it, and studied the man standing beside Daniel and Tiffany.
"Do you recognize him?"" I asked.
"No. But I recognize the building. It's a real estate closing office.""
"Can someone sell my house without my permission?""
Thomas closed his laptop.
"Someone can attempt to. Whether the transaction is legally valid is another matter.""
He picked up his phone and called his title company contact.
I sat silently while he explained the situation.
"Yes, I need an immediate title search. The property is held in a revocable trust. There may be a fraudulent deed involved.""
He listened.
Then his expression changed.
"When?""
Another pause.
"Send me the recording and the document number.""
He ended the call.
"Margaret, we have a problem.""
I gripped my handbag.
"What kind of problem?""
"Someone filed a deed transfer with the county yesterday.""
My stomach dropped.
"To whom?""
Thomas looked at the screen.
"A company called Bennett Property Solutions.""
Susan covered her mouth.
I shook my head.
"But the house belongs to my trust.""
"Exactly. The deed should not have been accepted as a legitimate transfer without the necessary authorization. We need to challenge the filing immediately.""
"Can they come tomorrow and force me out?""
"No. A recorded document does not automatically give someone the right to remove you from your home. But we need to move quickly.""
Thomas drafted an emergency notice disputing the transfer and contacted the county recording office.
He also instructed his staff to prepare a formal fraud complaint.
Before we left, he made one more call.
This time, it was to a property attorney who specialized in fraudulent conveyances.
I watched him pace beside the conference table.
"Yes, the original trustee is alive and competent. No, she never signed the transfer. We have the original trust documents.""
He paused.
"Then we'll request an emergency injunction.""
When he hung up, I asked, "What happens now?""
"We establish a clear legal record that you never authorized the sale. We also notify the title insurer and the prospective buyer.""
"Prospective buyer?""
Thomas nodded.
"Someone appears to have purchased an interest in your property.""
I stared at him.
"Who would buy a house without meeting the owner?""
"Someone who believes the paperwork is legitimate. Or someone who doesn't care.""
My phone rang.
Daniel.
I looked at Thomas.
"Should I answer?""
"Yes. Put it on speaker. Don't threaten him, and don't sign anything.""
I accepted the call.
"Hello, Daniel.""
"Mom, where are you?""
"With my attorney.""
He laughed nervously.
"Why are you involving lawyers?""
"Because someone filed a deed transferring my house to a company you own.""
There was a long silence.
Then he said, "You don't understand the arrangement.""
"Then explain it.""
"Mom, the house is too much for you. We found an investor willing to buy it. You can move somewhere smaller, and we'll make sure you're comfortable.""
"Did you sell my house?""
"We're handling it.""
"Without my permission?""
He sighed.
"Mom, you don't need a house this big.""
I looked at the original trust agreement on the table.
"Daniel, I asked you a question.""
His voice became defensive.
"Tiffany and I have put a lot of work into this. You should be thanking us.""
"Thanking you for what?""
"For solving your problems!""
I felt my throat tighten.
"My problems?""
"You're alone. You're getting older. You don't understand how complicated finances are.""
I looked at Susan.
She shook her head.
I continued calmly.
"Daniel, your father spent thirty years paying for that house. You know what he told me before he died?""
Daniel said nothing.
"He told me nobody would ever make me leave it.""
His voice suddenly softened.
"Mom, Dad isn't here anymore.""
The cruelty of that sentence hurt more than I expected.
"No," I whispered.
"He isn't.""
Then I ended the call.
Thomas looked at me.
"Are you all right?""
I nodded.
"Tell me what we need to do.""
By late afternoon, Thomas had obtained a copy of the recorded deed.
The document contained my name, the property address, and a signature that looked remarkably similar to mine.
But something was wrong.
The notary section listed Rebecca Sloan's commission number.
Thomas checked it against the state database.
He frowned.
"Her commission expired two years ago.""
I stared at him.
"Then how could she notarize anything?""
"She couldn't legally perform a notarization under an expired commission.""
Thomas made another call.
This time, he contacted the appropriate state office to verify the record.
While he worked, I received a message from Lily.
"Grandma, are you coming home?""
I typed back.
"Of course, sweetheart. Why?""
Her response came quickly.
"Mommy says the new people are coming tomorrow. She told me I have to help pack your things.""
My eyes filled with tears.
I called her immediately.
"Sweetheart, listen to me. You don't have to pack anything.""
"But Mommy said your house belongs to Daddy now.""
I swallowed.
"No, honey. This is still Grandma's home.""
She was quiet.
Then she whispered, "Grandma, Mommy has been taking pictures of all your jewelry.""
My heart stopped.
"Why?""
"I don't know. She put everything in a box. Daddy said they were going to sell it after you moved.""
I looked at Thomas.
He immediately wrote something down.
"Did you see where the box went?""
"Under Mommy's bed.""
I thanked her and told her I loved her.
Then I ended the call.
Thomas stood up.
"Margaret, I think we need to involve the police again. There may be additional theft of personal property.""
Before he could pick up his phone, mine rang.
An unfamiliar man introduced himself as the representative of the company that had supposedly purchased my house.
"Mrs. Bennett, I'm calling to arrange access to the property tomorrow morning.""
I tightened my grip.
"You will not be entering my house.""
He paused.
"Ma'am, according to the documents we received, ownership has already transferred.""
I looked directly at Thomas.
Then I answered.
"Your documents are fraudulent. My attorney will be contacting you.""
The man sighed.
"Mrs. Bennett, I strongly suggest you cooperate. We have already paid your son a substantial deposit.""
I felt my blood run cold.
"How much?""
He hesitated.
Then he gave me a number.
"$175,000.""
Thomas stopped writing.
Because the amount wasn't just close to the missing money.
It was almost twice the amount Daniel had stolen from my savings.
And suddenly, I understood.
May you like
My son hadn't been trying to sell my house to solve his financial problems.
He had been trying to raise enough money to disappear.
