Chapter 5 - The Envelope
The sealed envelope inside Claire’s handbag had been delivered by Maya at sunrise.
It contained copies of three documents.
The original deed showing Claire as sole owner.
A notice revoking William’s guest access.
And a sworn statement concerning a suspicious signature submitted to the county clerk.
The document had not yet changed ownership.
But someone had attempted to file it.
A clerk rejected it because the notarization was incomplete.
The rejected transfer claimed Claire had granted William authority over the lake house.
Claire’s signature appeared at the bottom.
It was not hers.
Maya had discovered the filing after checking the property records during the night.
The signature looked convincing from a distance.
But Claire never formed the letter C that way.
More importantly, she had been in Seattle on the date listed.
Maya suspected someone copied the signature from an old family-business document.
William’s signature also appeared.
His was probably real.
Ryan’s name did not appear on the transfer.
The document gave control to William.
That meant Ryan needed another paper.
Something William signed after gaining supposed authority.
When Claire asked whether the second transfer had been filed, Maya shook her head.
“Not yet.”
“Then why is Ryan here already?”
“Because he thinks possession will help him.”
Ryan planned to move furniture inside, change utilities, and create the appearance that he already controlled the property.
May you like
The moving truck was not just arrogance.
It was part of the strategy.
