Chapter 1 - THE HOUSE THEY THOUGHT THEY OWNED
Three days earlier, Rebecca had not even planned to return to Hart House.
Her deployment had ended unexpectedly, and she had received a short message from her mother.
Come home. We need to talk.
No explanation.
No details.
Just those four words.
Rebecca had spent years learning not to ask questions she already knew would hurt.
Still, something about the message bothered her.
She drove toward the old family property shortly after sunrise.
The house looked exactly as she remembered.
White siding.
Dark shutters.
Wide front porch.
The old maple tree Grandma had planted when Rebecca was six.
But there was something different.
A black SUV sat in the driveway.
Rebecca parked behind it.
She walked to the front door.
Before she could knock, she heard voices inside.
Claire.
Harold.
And a man Rebecca did not recognize.
“She has to sign,” Claire said.
“She will,” Harold answered.
“What if she refuses?”
“Then we make her understand.”
Rebecca's hand stopped above the doorknob.
She listened.
The unknown man spoke quietly.
“The transfer papers are already prepared.”
Rebecca slowly opened the door.
Everyone went silent.
Claire turned.
Her smile appeared instantly.
“Rebecca.”
Rebecca looked at the papers spread across the dining table.
Then at her father.
Then at the stranger.
“Who is he?”
Claire stood.
“A consultant.”
Rebecca frowned.
“For what?”
Harold stepped toward her.
“You should have called before coming.”
“This is my home too.”
Harold’s face hardened.
“No. It isn’t.”
Rebecca stared at him.
“What?”
Claire gathered the papers.
“Grandma’s estate is being finalized.”
Rebecca's eyes narrowed.
“Grandma died three years ago.”
“Exactly.”
Claire placed a document on the table.
“We are finally resolving everything.”
Rebecca picked it up.
The document appeared to transfer ownership of Hart House.
But something immediately bothered her.
The signature page had been prepared recently.
She looked at Claire.
“Why does this say I agreed to this?”
“You will.”
“I didn't.”
Claire sighed.
“You always have to make everything difficult.”
Rebecca put the paper down.
“Who authorized this?”
Harold said nothing.
Margaret stood silently near the kitchen.
Rebecca looked at her mother.
“Mom?”
Margaret lowered her eyes.
“Your father thinks it is best.”
Rebecca felt something cold settle inside her.
“Best for who?”
Nobody answered.
Then Rebecca noticed something on the wall.
Grandma’s photograph.
Underneath it was the brass key Grandma had worn around her neck for decades.
Except it was gone.
Rebecca looked at Evelyn’s old handwriting engraved on the small wooden frame.
One day, the truth will come home.
Rebecca touched the frame.
Claire immediately stepped between her and the photograph.
“Don't.”
Rebecca looked at her.
“Why?”
Claire smiled.
“You don't need to know.”
That was when Rebecca understood.
They weren't asking her to sign something.
May you like
They were trying to keep her from discovering something.
And whatever that something was, they were afraid she had already begun looking.
