Chapter 10 - The House Lorraine Thought She OwnedDaniel changed every lock.
Lorraine responded by claiming partial ownership of the house.
Rachel investigated.
The property had originally been purchased by Richard, but deed records showed it had been transferred to Daniel eight years earlier.
Lorraine’s claim was weak.
Her strategy, however, revealed something useful.
She produced an old family-property agreement.
Samuel examined it.
“This references another parcel.”
A lake property.
Daniel had forgotten about it.
His father owned a lakeside cabin when Daniel was young.
Lorraine claimed it had been sold.
It hadn't.
Instead, ownership had been transferred into Harbor Ridge.
The cabin sat on forty acres now valued at nearly $3 million.
Daniel drove there with Samuel.
The cabin was abandoned.
Inside they found old furniture, dust and filing cabinets.
One cabinet had been forced open recently.
Someone had arrived before them.
Yet whoever searched the cabin missed a hidden compartment beneath Richard’s desk.
Inside Daniel found a ledger.
Names.
Payments.
Dates.
Peter Lang.
Gregory Vale.
Lorraine Mercer.
Thomas Mercer.
And several local contractors.
Harbor Ridge had inflated construction invoices and routed excess funds through consulting entities.
Daniel photographed everything.
Then Samuel noticed tire tracks outside.
Fresh.
Someone had followed them.
They left immediately.
Halfway home, a black Mercedes appeared behind them.
Samuel called Rachel.
The Mercedes remained two cars back for fifteen miles before turning away.
Daniel recognized the plate.
It was the same car from Mark’s footage.
Registered owner:
Harbor Ridge Development LLC.
That night, Lorraine called.
Daniel almost ignored her.
Then answered.
“What?”
“You went to the lake.”
Daniel's grip tightened.
“How do you know?”
“You have no idea what you're touching.”
“Dad did.”
Silence.
Daniel continued.
“I found his ledger.”
Lorraine inhaled sharply.
“Give it to me.”
“No.”
“You think Maya will stay once she knows how much money is involved?”
Daniel almost laughed.
“You still think this is about Maya.”
“It has always been about protecting you.”
“You hit my daughter.”
Lorraine went silent.
“You tied her to a tree.”
“She was never in danger.”
Daniel’s voice lowered.
“You don't get to decide that.”
Lorraine changed tactics.
“If Harbor Ridge collapses, the trust could lose millions.”
“You mean you could.”
“You don't understand.”
“Then explain it.”
Lorraine finally said:
“Your father started it.”
Daniel knew enough to recognize the lie.
“Prove it.”
“I can.”
“How?”
“Come alone tomorrow.”
“Where?”
“The lake.”
Daniel looked at Maya.
She shook her head immediately.
Lorraine continued:
“I'll show you documents Richard hid from you.”
Daniel said nothing.
Then Lorraine added:
“And I'll tell you why your father really changed Nia’s trust.”
Daniel’s heart stopped.
“What are you talking about?”
Lorraine whispered:
“You think Richard was protecting her from me.”
A pause.
May you like
“He was protecting her from what would happen after he was gone.”
Then she disconnected.
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