Chapter 15 - THE MONEY UNDER THE FLOORThe planned bypass was real. The county had discussed it publicly for months, but there was no final approval and no guaranteed buyer at any price. Lorena had built her escape plan on speculation and greed.
"She talked about millions," Mom said. "And I only wanted to keep my roses alive another summer."
Dad had planted those roses the year I started kindergarten. Lorena never watered them.
Chen requested preservation of the unknown-number call information. Eleanor helped Mom document that no one had authority to sell the property under the disputed papers. Mom also chose a new financial contact, a longtime friend from church, so I wouldn't be the only person standing between her and another manipulation.
"I'm not handing my life to anyone," she told me. "Not even you, honey."
I smiled for the first time in days. "Yes, ma'am."
The investigation uncovered something else: Lorena had hidden emergency cash beneath the loose floor of a closet. It wasn't a fortune, but it matched withdrawals from an account connected to the disputed deposit. Beside the cash was a printed itinerary for a bus leaving town the next morning.
Mom saw the destination. "Savannah. That's where Lorena's sister lives."
"Do we know she's going?" I asked Chen.
"Not yet. But we're checking."
An hour later, Ellie called with a new message from Carlos. He said he was ready to turn himself in if someone would protect him from Lorena.
"He says she has a second deed," Ellie told me, "and that it isn't signed by your mother."
"Whose signature is on it?"
May you like
Ellie's breath caught.
"Yours, Daniel. Dated while you were overseas."
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