Chapter 8 - Robert’s CompanyMelissa Grant spent one morning tracing Green Field Agricultural Consulting.
By lunchtime she called Daniel.
“You’re not going to like this.”
“Tell me.”
“Green Field is controlled through another LLC called Ridgeway Holdings.”
“Who owns Ridgeway?”
“Robert Carter.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
The missing $186,400 had been going to his uncle.
Claire had approved the transfers.
His uncle had received them.
Melissa continued.
“There’s more. Ridgeway recently signed a preliminary agreement with a development company.”
“For what?”
“Your western acreage.”
Daniel stood.
“They can’t sell my land.”
“They apparently believe they can.”
“How?”
“Because Robert represented himself as having an ownership interest.”
Daniel immediately understood.
The hidden family agreement.
Robert knew the farm’s title was questionable.
He had been preparing to exploit it.
“How much?”
“Preliminary purchase price is fourteen million dollars.”
Daniel said nothing.
“Daniel?”
“I’m here.”
“There’s another issue. The developer’s attorney requested confirmation that no minor beneficiary has an enforceable interest in Carter Ridge.”
Ethan.
Daniel felt cold.
“Why would Ethan have an interest?”
Melissa hesitated.
“I haven’t figured that out yet.”
Daniel went to the courthouse archives himself.
The clerk brought out old probate records belonging to his grandmother Miriam.
Several pages were missing.
But the index referenced an attachment:
Supplemental Child Protection Covenant.
No copy existed in the public file.
Daniel returned home and searched his father’s cabinet again.
Nothing.
Then he remembered the mysterious watcher.
Anna.
If she was alive, she might have the missing pages.
That night Daniel placed a note beneath the photograph she had left.
He carried it to the eastern fence and secured it under a stone.
Anna, if that was you, I know you’re alive. Ethan needs help. I need the truth. Please.
The following morning the note was gone.
In its place lay a small brass key.
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Attached to it was a tag.
BUS STATION LOCKER 214.
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