Chapter 5: The Papers That Disappeared
“Who sent you that?”” Loretta demanded.
Marcus turned his phone so she could see the screen.
“That's my question.””
“Block the number.””
“Why?””
“Because people are trying to stir up trouble.””
“People who know about the original property papers?””
Loretta's lips pressed together.
Tasha slowly sat on the edge of the armchair.
“Mom,” she said, “what original papers?””
Loretta swung toward her.
“Don't start.””
“But you told me everything was handled.””
Marcus caught the words.
“Everything was handled?””
Tasha looked as if she'd bitten her tongue.
Loretta pointed toward the staircase.
“Go upstairs, Tasha.””
“No,” Marcus said.
“She can stay.””
His sister stared at him.
“You can't control me.””
“I'm not trying to control you. I'm trying to understand why both of you seem to know something about my grandfather's papers.””
The siren grew louder.
Marcus glanced toward the driveway, then back at his mother.
“I'm going to ask you one more time. What happened to the original property documents?””
Loretta straightened her sweater.
“They were old papers. Your grandfather kept everything. Receipts, letters, bank statements. Half of it was useless.””
“That's not an answer.””
“I don't remember where everything went.””
Tasha looked down at her hands.
Marcus noticed.
“Tasha?””
She shook her head.
“Don't ask me.””
“Why not?””
“Because I don't want to be involved.””
“You already are.””
Her face crumpled with frustration.
“You think it's easy being the daughter who stayed? You left for the Army. You built your own life. You had a wife, a career, a future.
I was here when Grandpa got sick. I was here when Mom couldn't sleep. I was here when the bills came.””
Marcus listened without interrupting.
Tasha continued, her voice rising.
“Every time you called, everyone pretended things were fine because nobody wanted to worry you. Mom handled the house. I helped her. We thought that meant we deserved a say in what happened to it.””
“A say isn't the same as ownership,” Marcus replied.
“Maybe not to you.””
“No. Not to anyone.””
Tasha's eyes filled.
“You weren't here when Grandpa died.””
The words struck harder than she probably intended.
Marcus looked away.
He remembered the call that had come while he was stationed thousands of miles away. He remembered sitting on the edge of a narrow bed, staring at his phone after the connection ended. He remembered asking for leave and being told it would take time.
He had arrived too late to say goodbye.
For years, the guilt had followed him.
Tasha knew that.
She had just used it.
Marcus returned his gaze to hers.
“You're right. I wasn't here. And I'll regret that for the rest of my life. But missing his final days doesn't give anyone permission to hurt Emily or lie about a property record.””
Tasha wiped her cheeks.
“Mom said Grandpa wanted us to stay here.””
“Did you read his letter?””
“No.””
“Did you see the deed?””
She hesitated.
“I saw some paperwork.””
“What paperwork?””
Tasha looked at Loretta.
Their mother stepped between them.
“This conversation is over.””
Marcus reached for the leather folder on the table.
Loretta grabbed its handle.
“Don't touch that.””
He stopped.
“Why?””
“Because it's mine.””
“Then you won't mind explaining what's inside.””
She clutched the folder against her body.
“Your grandfather trusted me to manage the household. I kept records because someone had to. I paid expenses, arranged repairs, and handled everything while you were away.””
Marcus held out his hand.
“Show me the documents concerning the property.””
“No.””
The refusal came so quickly that even Tasha looked startled.
Marcus nodded once.
“Fine.””
He stepped away from the table and checked on Emily.
The emergency responders had not arrived yet, but he could see their vehicle turning onto the street. He moved to the window, watching as it approached the house.
Behind him, Loretta whispered urgently to Tasha.
Marcus couldn't make out every word.
He heard only fragments.
“...the drawer...””
“...you promised...””
“...not now...””
He turned.
“What drawer?””
Both women fell silent.
Tasha stood so abruptly that her knee struck the coffee table.
“I'm getting my coat.””
“Why?”” Marcus asked.
“Because I need air.””
“You can get air after we finish talking.””
She glared at him.
“You can't keep me prisoner.””
“No one's keeping you prisoner. But you aren't going to leave with documents that belong to this house.””
“I don't have any documents!””
Marcus looked at Loretta.
His mother wouldn't meet his eyes.
A knock sounded at the front door.
Marcus crossed the living room and opened it to two emergency medical responders. He explained Emily's condition, her exposure to the cold, and the injuries he had observed. They moved directly to the sofa, speaking gently as they began assessing her.
One responder asked Marcus to give them space.
He obeyed, though every instinct urged him to stay beside Emily.
Before she was taken for further evaluation, she reached for his hand.
“Don't let them tell you you're imagining things,” she whispered.
“I won't.””
“And don't let them make you feel guilty for asking questions.””
Marcus bent and kissed her forehead.
“I promise.””
As the responders prepared to move her, Tasha slipped toward the hallway.
Marcus noticed her reflection in the window.
“Tasha.””
She stopped.
“What?””
“Where are you going?””
“Upstairs.””
“Why?””
She hesitated, then answered too quickly.
“To get something.””
Marcus glanced at the leather folder in Loretta's hands.
Then at the staircase.
“Get what?””
Tasha swallowed.
“My purse.””
“Your purse is on the sofa.””
Her eyes darted toward the second floor.
The silence lasted only a second.
But it was enough.
Marcus stepped into the hallway.
“Whatever you're looking for, leave it where it is.””
Tasha's face flushed.
“You don't get to tell me what to do!””
She rushed up the stairs.
Marcus started after her, but Loretta grabbed his arm.
“Let her go!””
He looked down at his mother's hand until she released him.
“Why are you protecting her?””
“Because she's my daughter!””
“And Emily is my wife.””
Loretta's expression twisted.
“You have no idea what your grandfather's decision did to us.””
Marcus went still.
“What did it do to you?””
She seemed to realize what she'd revealed.
Then, from upstairs, came the sound of a drawer slamming shut.
Marcus hurried toward the staircase.
Tasha appeared at the landing holding a small brown envelope.
Her face was pale.
“Give me that,” he said.
She clutched it to her chest.
“No.””
“What's inside?””
“Nothing.””
“Then show me.””
Tasha backed away.
Loretta rushed to the bottom of the stairs.
“Marcus, stop!””
He looked at the envelope.
A strip of faded blue tape ran across its flap. Beneath it, in handwriting he recognized from the letter, were three words:
*Original Property Documents.*
Tasha stared at him, breathing rapidly.
Then she whispered, “Mom said Grandpa destroyed these.””
Marcus held out his hand.
“Give me the envelope.””
May you like
Tasha's fingers tightened around it.
And from somewhere inside the house, Loretta shouted, “If he opens that, we're all finished!””
