Chapter 14 - The Paper That Wouldn't Hold
Anita brought a certified copy of the forged option to our temporary office on Monday. She spread it beside Ruth's real signature from an old charitable lease.
"There's no lawful transfer here," she said. "But Simon used this paper to convince lenders he had a claim on your land. He built pressure on a lie, then tried to make you turn it into the truth."
Ruth ran one finger beside the forged name. "Beth knows my signature. She watched me sign permission slips for years."
"She knew your habits," I said. "That isn't the same as knowing your heart."
Anita smiled sadly. "We can pursue the property issue without waiting for the criminal case to finish. I have also notified the studio program that its records may have been exposed. Families will get accurate information instead of rumors."
Micah called. Winnie was playing bakery at Aunt Jess's house, and Leah had finally slept.
We let ourselves enjoy the update. Then Beth called Anita's office.
She said she'd remembered the name of a storage unit where Simon kept copies of transactions. She didn't know what was inside, and she wasn't asking us to go there. She wanted Moreno to have the information.
"Tell it directly to the detective," Anita said.
Beth did. By evening investigators had begun the legal process to examine the unit. They found files about several other landowners, each under pressure to sign below-market agreements. Our family wasn't the first target. We were simply the family that had a hallway camera.
Moreno phoned me after midnight. "Mr. Price, we believe Simon knows Beth is cooperating. She's requested a safe place to stay."
"Can you protect her?"
"We're working with her attorney. But she's left her assigned location without telling anyone."
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On my phone, a message arrived from Beth's number.
DAD, PLEASE DON'T COME LOOKING FOR ME. HE'S IN THE CAR.
