Chapter 4: The Man at the Door
The headlights stopped outside my lodge.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Snow swept across the windows, and the engine of the black SUV continued running. Through the glass, I could see a man sitting behind the steering wheel, his face illuminated by the dashboard.
Daniel Price.
My father's former attorney.
The same man whose name appeared on the documents my sister had been hiding.
Olivia grabbed my wrist.
“Claire, listen to me. Whatever Daniel says, don't give him that key.””
I pulled away.
“Why?””
“Because he isn't here to help you.””
My mother hurried toward the front door.
“Maybe we should let him explain.””
I looked at her.
“You knew he was coming?””
“No.””
“Then why are you acting like you expected him?””
She didn't answer.
Three hard knocks sounded through the lodge.
I walked to the door.
Olivia followed me.
“Don't open it.””
I turned the handle.
Daniel stood on the porch wearing a charcoal overcoat, leather gloves, and an expression that looked almost rehearsed.
“Claire,” he said.
“I'm sorry to arrive so late.””
“Then you should have stayed home.””
He glanced past me.
“Margaret. Olivia.””
My mother gave him a nervous smile.
“Daniel, I thought we agreed you'd wait.””
His eyes briefly narrowed.
“We don't have the luxury of waiting anymore.””
I stepped aside, allowing him into the entrance hall.
He removed his gloves and looked around the lodge.
“Beautiful place. Your father would have been proud.””
“Don't use my father to make yourself comfortable.””
Daniel gave a small nod.
“Fair enough.””
He noticed the brass key in my hand.
His expression changed.
“Where did you find that?””
“Behind a photograph.””
He looked at my mother.
Margaret lowered her eyes.
Daniel exhaled.
“Claire, I think we should sit down.””
“No. You can explain standing.””
He placed a leather briefcase on the entry table.
“Your grandfather established a family trust decades ago. The trust held certain mountain properties and mineral rights. After his death, the management responsibilities passed to your father.””
“Which is why my mother created an LLC?””
“Partly.””
“And why Olivia is pretending to own my lodge?””
Daniel looked uncomfortable.
“That's a separate matter.””
“Is it?””
He opened his briefcase.
Inside were several neatly arranged folders.
“I have documentation indicating that the property was intended to become part of the family trust.””
I laughed.
“Then why did I buy it from the previous owner three years ago?””
“Because the parcel boundaries were complicated.””
“My purchase agreement was reviewed by you.””
“Yes.””
“You signed the closing documents.””
“Yes.””
“So either you failed to do your job, or you're deliberately trying to confuse me.””
Daniel closed the folder.
“Neither explanation is entirely accurate.””
Olivia stepped forward.
“Daniel, tell her about Grandpa's agreement.””
He looked at her.
“Not yet.””
“Why not?””
“Because the agreement was never finalized.””
I turned toward Olivia.
“You told everyone Dad promised you this lodge.””
“He did!””
“Then why isn't there a finalized agreement?””
She clenched her fists.
“Because you were supposed to cooperate.””
I stared at her.
“So you thought you could announce ownership before getting my signature?””
Daniel interrupted.
“Claire, there's something else you need to understand. The trust contains an asset that could be worth considerably more than the lodge itself.””
My eyes moved to the brass key.
“The original documents?””
He nodded.
“Among other things.””
“What exactly?””
He hesitated.
“Mineral rights.””
I looked toward the snowy darkness outside.
My grandfather's property had been in the mountains for decades. I remembered him talking about underground springs, old mining surveys, and land that had once attracted the attention of a development company.
But nobody had ever mentioned valuable mineral rights.
“How much are they worth?””
Daniel avoided my eyes.
“That depends on the current assessment.””
“Give me a number.””
“I can't.””
“Or you won't?””
He reached into his briefcase and removed another document.
It was a geological assessment dated four months earlier.
The report identified a significant underground mineral deposit beneath the western section of the mountain.
The estimated commercial value was listed as $4.8 million.
I read the figure twice.
Then I looked at my mother.
“You knew?””
Margaret's eyes filled.
“I knew there was an assessment.””
“And you didn't tell me?””
“I was afraid.””
Olivia let out an impatient breath.
“Can we stop pretending this is some terrible crime? The money was supposed to stay in the family.””
I turned toward her.
“Then why did you try to take it?””
She looked away.
Daniel cleared his throat.
“There's another complication. The trust's original beneficiary designation is missing. We need to locate the original instrument before anyone can make a legitimate claim.””
I held up the key.
“And you think this opens something containing that instrument.””
“Yes.””
“Where?””
Daniel looked at the note.
“The original cabin.””
My mother shook her head.
“No. We agreed nobody would go there.””
Daniel turned toward her.
“That agreement is no longer relevant.””
I looked between them.
“What agreement?””
Neither answered.
Then Daniel said something that changed the temperature in the room.
“Claire, someone has already attempted to access the trust's secured records using your father's old signature.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“Who?””
Daniel looked directly at Olivia.
My sister's face turned crimson.
“That signature was legitimate!””
“Olivia,” my mother whispered.
“You told me Dad had signed it!””
Daniel removed a photocopy from his briefcase.
The document contained a signature that looked remarkably like my father's.
But the date was six months after his death.
I stared at it.
“That's impossible.””
Daniel nodded.
“Exactly.””
Olivia backed toward the staircase.
I held up the document.
“Who signed this?””
She didn't answer.
Daniel slowly closed his briefcase.
“That's why I came tonight. Before anyone discovers what happened, we need to secure the original trust documents.””
I looked at the man who had handled my property purchase.
Then at my sister.
Then at my mother.
“No,” I said.
Daniel raised an eyebrow.
“Excuse me?””
“You're not taking anything from my property. You're not searching my office. And you're not touching that key.””
I pointed toward the door.
“Get out.””
Daniel put his gloves back on.
“Think carefully, Claire. If the trust is invalidated, everyone could lose something.””
I stepped closer.
“Then maybe everyone should have thought about that before trying to steal my home.””
He opened the door.
Before leaving, he turned back.
“One more thing. Don't go to the cabin alone.””
“Why?””
His eyes shifted toward the dark forest.
“Because someone has been staying there.””
Then he walked into the snow.
I locked the door.
Behind me, Olivia whispered:
“He wasn't supposed to tell you that.””
I turned.
“Who is staying in the cabin?””
My sister stared at the floor.
May you like
And for the first time, my mother answered without hesitation.
“Your grandfather's other grandson.””
