Chapter 13 - Eleven O'Clock
The new deed attempted to transfer my property to Briarstone. It had not yet been recorded, but somebody expected it to be signed and delivered at Monday's closing under the disputed power of attorney.
"They don't just want the loan paid," Nina said. "They want the title moved out of your name before you can stop them."
At ten, Tessa drove me to Stonefield Title. Nina met us in the parking lot. My hand was wrapped in fresh gauze, and my cheek was still tender. I wore black pants and a borrowed green sweater because I refused to let this day be defined by a stained Christmas dress.
Inside, Ava Sloan brought us to a conference room away from the buyers. She had placed a formal compliance hold on the file. The escrow account could not disburse money while the company reviewed the fraud allegation.
"The closing won't happen today," she told me. "We still need to address the lien, but nobody here should be transferring your deed."
I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding.
Then Grant Pike appeared in the doorway.
He was younger than I'd expected, polished and impatient. "Ava, the buyer is demanding an explanation. We have a notarized power of attorney."
"You have a challenged document," Nina said.
Grant looked at me for the first time. "Mrs. Carter, perhaps your husband can clarify."
"My husband forged my signature."
His smile twitched. "That's a serious accusation."
"So is pretending I'm in a hospital."
Ava put herself between us. "Grant, step away from this file. Compliance asked you not to access it."
He turned on his heel. I watched him disappear toward the elevators, then heard the ding as the doors opened.
May you like
Ava's phone rang almost immediately. She listened, went still, and looked at Nina.
"Someone just tried to override the hold with my supervisor's credentials," she said. "The system logged the attempt from Grant's workstation."
