Chapter 13: My Father Had Taken Everything
Grandma June sat perfectly still.
The phone remained pressed against her ear even though the call had ended.
I had never seen her look so small.
For most of my life, she had been the strongest person I knew. She buried her husband, raised a family, survived financial hardships, and somehow always managed to make everyone feel welcome at her dinner table.
But now her hands were trembling.
“Grandma?””
She slowly lowered the phone.
“I signed something.””
Emmett pulled his chair closer.
“June, what exactly did Richard ask you to sign?””
She stared at the table.
“After Elwood died, Richard told me there were several estate documents that needed my approval. He said the bank required them to release the money.””
“Did you read them?””
“I tried. But there were so many pages. He told me they were routine.””
Emmett opened his notebook.
“Did you sign anything concerning the house?””
Grandma nodded weakly.
“He said he needed temporary authority to manage the property while I recovered from Elwood's funeral.””
I felt sick.
“Grandma, you were grieving.””
She looked at me.
“He was my son, Halley. I thought I could trust him.””
Emmett asked her to describe the documents.
After several minutes, he identified a possible problem.
“June, Richard may have presented you with a power of attorney and a separate property transfer. We need to obtain certified copies before drawing conclusions.””
Grandma's eyes filled.
“Can he take my house?””
“Not simply because he says so. We need to examine the documents, the circumstances under which they were signed, and whether they were legally valid.””
He picked up his phone.
“I'll request an emergency title search.””
While he made the call, I sat beside Grandma.
“I'm sorry.””
She looked confused.
“For what, sweetheart?””
“For not noticing what he was doing.””
She took my hand.
“You were busy trying to survive. That's what he counted on.””
Those words hurt more than anything else.
By late afternoon, Emmett had obtained preliminary property records.
The house had not been transferred directly to Richard.
Instead, it had been placed into a limited liability company called Overstreet Property Management.
Richard was listed as its sole managing member.
Grandma remained listed as the original owner on an earlier deed, but the newer filing gave the company control over several property rights.
Emmett explained that the filing needed further review.
“Richard appears to have used the authority document to execute transactions on June's behalf.””
Grandma stared at the papers.
“Does that mean I can be evicted?””
“Not automatically. But we should take immediate steps to protect your interests.””
I looked at the company name.
“Who owns it?””
“Richard.””
Emmett turned another page.
Then he stopped.
“That's interesting.””
“What?””
“The company was registered through the same accounting office that handled the orchard financing.””
I remembered the photograph of Dad and Daniel Mercer.
“Sterling Capital?””
“Possibly connected. We need the corporate records.””
He continued reading.
“There's also a mortgage recorded against the house.””
Grandma gasped.
“A mortgage? I never borrowed money against my house!””
The amount was $185,000.
I looked at her.
“Did Dad ever give you money?””
She shook her head.
“No. He told me the house was completely paid off.””
Emmett wrote down the loan reference.
“We'll request the original application and verify the signatures.””
My phone vibrated.
A message from Bryce.
Dad is coming to Grandma's house tonight. He's taking some documents.
I immediately showed Emmett.
He called our local police department and explained that we had reason to believe potentially relevant financial records might be removed from the property.
Then he called a locksmith to arrange a change of locks, subject to Grandma's authorization and the property's legal status.
Grandma looked at me.
“I don't want my son arrested.””
I squeezed her hand.
“Then he shouldn't have committed crimes.””
She closed her eyes.
At seven that evening, we arrived at Grandma's house.
Dad's SUV was already parked outside.
The front door stood open.
I rushed inside.
“Dad!””
He was standing in the living room, holding a cardboard box.
Inside were folders, envelopes, and several old financial statements.
He turned.
“Get out.””
Grandma stepped forward.
“This is my house.””
Richard sighed.
“Mom, don't make this difficult.””
“You've taken enough from me.””
He placed the box on the coffee table.
“You have no idea what you're talking about.””
“I know you used my signature.””
Dad shook his head.
“You signed those papers voluntarily.””
“I trusted you to explain them.””
“And you signed them. That's what matters.””
I stepped between them.
“Give us the documents.””
He laughed.
“Who do you think you are?””
“Your daughter.””
For a moment, his expression softened.
Then he pointed at the door.
“Go home, Halley.””
“This is Grandma's home.””
“You have no right to interfere.””
Emmett entered behind us.
“Actually, Richard, we have several questions about the documents you're holding.””
Dad's face tightened.
“Not you again.””
Emmett placed a letter on the table.
“Your mother's legal counsel has formally requested that all records concerning her property be preserved. Removing or destroying relevant documents could create additional legal problems.””
Dad picked up the letter.
He read the first paragraph.
Then he laughed.
“You think a piece of paper scares me?””
“No,” Emmett replied.
“The evidence does.””
Dad looked toward the box.
Then he suddenly grabbed it.
I caught the handle.
“Let go!””
“Move, Halley!””
The box tipped.
Folders spilled across the carpet.
One document slid beneath the coffee table.
I picked it up.
It was a loan agreement.
The borrower was Overstreet Property Management.
The collateral was Grandma's house.
But the lender wasn't Sterling Capital.
It was a private company called *Westlake Recovery Group*.
The amount was $185,000.
And the signature beneath the borrower's authorization belonged to Richard.
I looked at Emmett.
“Dad borrowed against Grandma's house using his company?””
Emmett examined the document.
“That's what this appears to show.””
Dad lunged for it.
“Give that back!””
Emmett stepped between us.
“Don't touch her.””
Dad stopped.
For the first time, I saw fear in his eyes.
Then Grandma spoke.
“Richard, where is my money?””
He looked at her.
“What money?””
“The money from the house.””
He didn't answer.
Grandma's voice broke.
“You took the money from my house, didn't you?””
Dad looked toward the open doorway.
Then he said something that changed everything.
“I needed it to pay back Elwood.””
Emmett went still.
“Pay back what?””
Dad's eyes moved between us.
“The original debt wasn't three hundred and ten thousand dollars.””
May you like
He swallowed.
“It was over a million.””
