Chapter 7: ## Chapter 7: Nine A.M. to Lose Everything: Nine A.M. to Lose Everything
I stared at the photograph until the words blurred.
I stared at the photograph until the words blurred.
*SHE HAS UNTIL NINE A.M. TO LESHE HAS UNTIL NINE A.M. TO LEAVE.*
My house had stood on Maple Street for thirty-one years. I had painted the shuttersAVE.**
My house had stood on Maple Street for thirty-one years. I had painted the shutters with Robert one summer, planted roses beneath the front windows, and with Robert one summer, planted roses beneath the front windows, and watched Vanessa walk through that front door wearing a graduation gown two sizes too big.
Now watched Vanessa walk through that front door wearing a graduation gown two sizes too big.
Now someone had changed the locks and decided I no longer belonged there.
“Marcus,” someone had changed the locks and decided I no longer belonged there.
“Marcus,” I whispered, handing him my phone.
“They've taken my house.””
He examined the photograph, his mouth tightening.
“No,” he said firmly.
“They've changed a I whispered, handing him my phone.
“They've taken my house.””
He examined the photograph, his mouth tightening.
“No,” he said firmly.
“They've changed a lock. That doesn't mean they legally own your home.””
Daniel's words echoed in my head. *Check lock. That doesn't mean they legally own your home.””
Daniel's words echoed in my head. Check the county property records.
I turned toward Mr. Bennett.
“Is there somewhere I can sit down and make a few calls?””
“Of the county property records.*
I turned toward Mr. Bennett.
“Is there somewhere I can sit down and make a few calls?””
“Of course, Mrs. Carter.”” He gestured toward a small table near the ballroom's windows course, Mrs.
Carter.”” He gestured toward a small table near the ballroom's windows.
“I'll arrange a private area.””
Vanessa rose so quickly that her chair.
“I'll arrange a private area.””
Vanessa rose so quickly that her chair scraped across the marble.
“Mom, don't call the police.””
I stopped.
“Why?””
“Because this can still scraped across the marble.
“Mom, don't call the police.””
I stopped.
“Why?””
“Because this can still be fixed.””
“Then fix it.””
She looked toward the doors through which Daniel had disappeared be fixed.””
“Then fix it.””
She looked toward the doors through which Daniel had disappeared.
“I need to speak to him.””
“You've had plenty of time to speak to him.””
“Please. Just give me until.
“I need to speak to him.””
“You've had plenty of time to speak to him.””
“Please. Just give me until tomorrow.””
I almost laughed at the cruelty of it.
“Tomorrow? Someone has ordered tomorrow.””
I almost laughed at the cruelty of it.
“Tomorrow? Someone has ordered me out of my home by nine in the morning.””
“I didn't know he me out of my home by nine in the morning.””
“I didn't know he would change the locks!””
“But you knew about the loan.””
Her lips trembled.
“I thought he would change the locks!””
“But you knew about the loan.””
Her lips trembled.
“I thought he was going to handle everything.””
“Everything except telling the truth, apparently.””
Marcus pulled a was going to handle everything.””
“Everything except telling the truth, apparently.””
Marcus pulled a chair out for me.
“Loretta, let's contact an attorney and the county recorder chair out for me.
“Loretta, let's contact an attorney and the county recorder. We need to know exactly what was filed.””
Vanessa grabbed his sleeve.
“Don't. We need to know exactly what was filed.””
Vanessa grabbed his sleeve.
“Don't do this to me on our wedding day.””
He looked down at her hand until do this to me on our wedding day.””
He looked down at her hand until she released him.
“You did this to yourself when you let another man put your she released him.
“You did this to yourself when you let another man put your mother in danger.””
“I'm your wife!””
“You're not my wife until we sign mother in danger.””
“I'm your wife!””
“You're not my wife until we sign the marriage certificate.””
The words struck her harder than anything else he could the marriage certificate.””
The words struck her harder than anything else he could have said.
She looked toward the head table, where the wedding certificate still rested inside a have said.
She looked toward the head table, where the wedding certificate still rested inside a white envelope beside the flowers.
Then she turned to me.
“Mom, please. I know I've made mistakes, white envelope beside the flowers.
Then she turned to me.
“Mom, please. I know I've made mistakes, but I'm still your daughter.””
I studied her face.
I could see the little girl who had but I'm still your daughter.””
I studied her face.
I could see the little girl who had once crawled into my bed after a thunderstorm. I could see the teenager who had cried when her father once crawled into my bed after a thunderstorm. I could see the teenager who had cried when her father died, gripping my hand so tightly that her fingernails left marks.
I could also died, gripping my hand so tightly that her fingernails left marks.
I could also see the woman who had slapped me in front of two hundred people.
“You are my daughter,” I said.
“That see the woman who had slapped me in front of two hundred people.
“You are my daughter,” I said.
“That is why this hurts so much.””
Her eyes filled.
“Then help me.””
“I've is why this hurts so much.””
Her eyes filled.
“Then help me.””
“I've helped you for thirty years. Right now, I need to help myself.””
I turned away and called helped you for thirty years. Right now, I need to help myself.””
I turned away and called my bank again, using the case number the representative had given me. While I waited, Marcus my bank again, using the case number the representative had given me. While I waited, Marcus searched for the county recorder's office number on his phone.
Mr. Bennett returned with water searched for the county recorder's office number on his phone.
Mr. Bennett returned with water and a notepad.
“Mrs. Carter,” he said, “I've asked our accounting and a notepad.
“Mrs. Carter,” he said, “I've asked our accounting team to preserve every document related to the wedding payments. We won't alter or discard anything.””
“Thank team to preserve every document related to the wedding payments. We won't alter or discard anything.””
“Thank you.””
“And if you need a copy of the venue's transaction records, I'll provide what we're legally you.””
“And if you need a copy of the venue's transaction records, I'll provide what we're legally permitted to release.””
His quiet professionalism steadied me more than he could permitted to release.””
His quiet professionalism steadied me more than he could have known.
A bank investigator eventually answered. I explained the photograph have known.
A bank investigator eventually answered. I explained the photograph, the changed locks, and Daniel's claim that another party now held an interest in my property.
“Mrs. Carter,”, the changed locks, and Daniel's claim that another party now held an interest in my property.
“Mrs. Carter,” she said, “we've placed a fraud alert on the application. However, the property records she said, “we've placed a fraud alert on the application.
However, the property records must be examined separately. We cannot determine ownership based solely on the loan documents.””
“ must be examined separately. We cannot determine ownership based solely on the loan documents.””
“Can you tell me whether my house has been sold?””
“I can tell you the applicationCan you tell me whether my house has been sold?””
“I can tell you the application references a recorded instrument. I cannot confirm the current title without reviewing the county references a recorded instrument. I cannot confirm the current title without reviewing the county record.””
My throat tightened.
“What kind of instrument?””
“A deed-related filing.””
record.””
My throat tightened.
“What kind of instrument?””
“A deed-related filing.””
Marcus stopped typing.
I gripped the phone.
“Are you saying someone transferredMarcus stopped typing.
I gripped the phone.
“Are you saying someone transferred my house?””
“I'm saying that a filing appears to be associated with the property. You should obtain the official record my house?””
“I'm saying that a filing appears to be associated with the property. You should obtain the official record immediately and consult a property attorney.””
When the call ended, Marcus was already searching for an attorney who immediately and consult a property attorney.””
When the call ended, Marcus was already searching for an attorney who handled real estate fraud.
Vanessa stood several feet away, twisting her wedding ring.
handled real estate fraud.
Vanessa stood several feet away, twisting her wedding ring.
“Mom,” she said softly, “there's something I need to tell you.””
I looked up.
“Then tell“Mom,” she said softly, “there's something I need to tell you.””
I looked up.
“Then tell me.””
She glanced at Marcus.
“Not with him here.””
“Whatever you have to say concerns me.””
She glanced at Marcus.
“Not with him here.””
“Whatever you have to say concerns my house. He can stay.””
She swallowed.
“Daniel told me the paperwork was my house. He can stay.””
She swallowed.
“Daniel told me the paperwork was temporary. He said the lender needed a property authorization to release the investment temporary. He said the lender needed a property authorization to release the investment funds, and once the deal closed, everything would be reversed.””
“Did you give funds, and once the deal closed, everything would be reversed.””
“Did you give him my identification?””
She nodded.
“Did you provide the information he needed to access my accounts him my identification?””
She nodded.
“Did you provide the information he needed to access my accounts?””
Another nod.
“Did you sign my name?””
She began crying.
“I signed the electronic forms.””
The ballroom?””
Another nod.
“Did you sign my name?””
She began crying.
“I signed the electronic forms.””
The ballroom seemed to fall away.
“You signed my name?””
“I thought I was helping you!””
I stared at her.
“How could seemed to fall away.
“You signed my name?””
“I thought I was helping you!””
I stared at her.
“How could you possibly believe that?””
“He said the property would never actually be transferred. He said it was just you possibly believe that?””
“He said the property would never actually be transferred. He said it was just security for a short-term loan.””
“And you believed a man you were working with over your security for a short-term loan.””
“And you believed a man you were working with over your own mother?””
“I didn't know what else to do!””
“What did you do with the money, Vanessa?””
She wiped her cheeks own mother?””
“I didn't know what else to do!””
“What did you do with the money, Vanessa?””
She wiped her cheeks.
“Daniel said he would repay it. I used part of the funds for the wedding deposits.
“Daniel said he would repay it. I used part of the funds for the wedding deposits. Some went to the business. The rest went toward the property deal.””
“. Some went to the business. The rest went toward the property deal.””
“Which means you spent money you had no right to borrow.””
“I know!””
Her screamWhich means you spent money you had no right to borrow.””
“I know!””
Her scream startled several nearby guests.
She covered her mouth, breathing startled several nearby guests.
She covered her mouth, breathing hard.
“I know what I did,” she whispered.
“But I never wanted hard.
“I know what I did,” she whispered.
“But I never wanted you to lose your house.””
“Wanting something and making sure it doesn't happen are two different things.””
Marcus's you to lose your house.””
“Wanting something and making sure it doesn't happen are two different things.””
Marcus's phone rang.
He answered, listened for several seconds, and then looked at me.
“I phone rang.
He answered, listened for several seconds, and then looked at me.
“I found an attorney who can review the public records. She says we should get the official deed immediately.””
“Can she found an attorney who can review the public records. She says we should get the official deed immediately.””
“Can she stop them from removing me?””
“She says we need to establish exactly what was filed first.””
Vanessa rushed stop them from removing me?””
“She says we need to establish exactly what was filed first.””
Vanessa rushed toward us.
“Don't let her see the deed.””
Marcus stared at her.
“Why?””
Vanessa's face cr toward us.
“Don't let her see the deed.””
Marcus stared at her.
“Why?””
Vanessa's face crumpled.
“Because it isn't just the loan.””
My stomach tightened.
“What else did you signumpled.
“Because it isn't just the loan.””
My stomach tightened.
“What else did you sign?””
She shook her head, crying openly now.
“I didn't understand all of it. Daniel said it was?””
She shook her head, crying openly now.
“I didn't understand all of it. Daniel said it was standard paperwork. He said I only needed to witness the transaction.””
“Witness what transaction?””
She looked at standard paperwork. He said I only needed to witness the transaction.””
“Witness what transaction?””
She looked at me with an expression I had never seen before.
Pure shame.
Then she whispered, “The me with an expression I had never seen before.
Pure shame.
Then she whispered, “The deed transferring your house wasn't signed by you, Mom.””
I closed my eyes.
deed transferring your house wasn't signed by you, Mom.””
I closed my eyes.
“And whose signature is on it?””
Vanessa's lips trembled.
“Mine.””
Before anyone“And whose signature is on it?””
Vanessa's lips trembled.
“Mine.””
Before anyone could speak, Marcus's phone chimed with an email from the county recorder's office.
The could speak, Marcus's phone chimed with an email from the county recorder's office.
The subject line read: *CERTIFIED PROPERTY RECORD — MAPLE STREET.*
He opened the subject line read: *CERTIFIED PROPERTY RECORD — MAPLE STREET.*
He opened the attachment.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he looked at me.
“Loretta, there's another attachment.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he looked at me.
“Loretta, there's another name on this deed.””
I leaned toward the screen.
The document name on this deed.””
I leaned toward the screen.
The document identified the person who had supposedly received ownership of my house.
identified the person who had supposedly received ownership of my house.
It wasn't Daniel Cole.
It wasn't Vanessa.
It was Marcus.
And beneath hisIt wasn't Daniel Cole.
It wasn't Vanessa.
It was Marcus.
May you like
And beneath his name was a date proving the transfer had been recorded three days before he proposed to my name was a date proving the transfer had been recorded three days before he proposed to my daughter.
daughter.
