Chapter 5 - THE DEED
Evelyn brought Rebecca to the county records office.
There, they found the original property documents.
The public deed showed Harold as the owner.
But another document had been sealed separately.
Evelyn requested access.
The clerk looked surprised.
“This has been restricted for years.”
“By whose order?” Rebecca asked.
The clerk checked the file.
“Margaret Hart.”
Rebecca looked at Evelyn.
“My mother?”
Evelyn nodded.
The sealed envelope was opened.
Inside was a deed transferring the property to Rebecca.
The date was twenty years earlier.
Rebecca stared at her name.
“Why was this hidden?”
Evelyn looked at her.
“Because your grandmother knew your father would try to challenge it.”
“Why would he?”
“Because he was not the only person with a financial interest in the property.”
Rebecca's stomach tightened.
“Who else?”
Evelyn didn't answer.
Instead, she pointed to the bottom of the deed.
There was another signature.
Thomas Hart.
Rebecca stared.
“He witnessed it.”
“Yes.”
“So Thomas knew.”
“He knew everything.”
Rebecca looked up.
“Then why did he disappear?”
Evelyn's face became distant.
“That is the question your grandmother wanted you to answer.”
When Rebecca returned home, Harold was waiting.
He was no longer angry.
He looked exhausted.
“You found the deed.”
Rebecca stopped.
“How do you know?”
“Because Claire told me.”
Rebecca studied him.
“You knew it existed.”
“Yes.”
“Then why did you lie?”
Harold looked toward the family photographs.
“Because I was afraid.”
Rebecca almost couldn't believe it.
“Of what?”
Harold looked at her.
“Of what would happen if you found the truth.”
“What truth?”
He opened his mouth.
Then stopped.
Claire entered the room.
“Dad.”
Harold looked at her.
“We can't keep doing this.”
Claire shook her head.
“You don't understand.”
Rebecca turned toward her.
“Then explain.”
Claire held up the transfer papers.
“There is someone else.”
Rebecca frowned.
“Who?”
Claire's voice dropped.
“The person who has been paying our debts.”
Rebecca froze.
“What debts?”
Claire looked at Harold.
He finally admitted it.
“The house was never ours to use.”
Silence filled the room.
Rebecca stepped backward.
“What did you do?”
Harold didn't answer.
Claire whispered.
“Grandma knew.”
Rebecca stared at the deed.
Then at the locked basement door.
And suddenly the entire house seemed different.
May you like
Someone had not been trying to steal the house from Rebecca.
Someone had been trying to stop her from discovering why the house had been so valuable in the first place.
