Chapter 9 - Four Votes
The neighborhood meeting took place in a church basement that smelled of coffee and floor cleaner. Mark brought Maya and a folder of evidence. Sarah stayed with Sophie at her sister's house.
Harriet put a large map on the folding table. Red arrows marked a proposed construction entrance where children usually rode bikes.
"This is not a neighborhood improvement," Mark said. "It's a shortcut to somebody else's profit."
A trustee named Mr. Barlow tapped the plan. "We were told your family supported it. Clara showed us a letter."
Maya laid the genuine signature samples beside the letter. "My clients dispute that document. The authorities are investigating related forgeries. Please postpone any vote until the records are verified."
Nolan stood at the back wearing a blue sport coat. "You're making ordinary business sound criminal."
"Then you'll have no objection to independent verification," Maya replied.
Harriet called for a motion to delay. It passed narrowly. Nobody signed away the lane that night.
Outside, Nolan caught Mark beside his car.
"You're ruining a deal that could help your family," he said.
"You mean your family."
"Clara told me you were stubborn. She didn't say you were stupid. Do you even know how much she owes?"
Mark kept walking. Nolan followed far enough to add, "Your sister can't pay me back if your house stays out of reach."
Mark stopped. "That's a conversation for my lawyer."
At home, Sarah was waiting with bad news. The county clerk had received another document, not a loan this time but a request to record an easement agreement bearing Mark's name. Maya had filed an objection and a notice of disputed ownership claims.
The agreement wasn't dated Monday.
May you like
It was dated tomorrow.
And the witness line bore the name of a woman who had attended Sophie's birthday party.
