“Because whoever lives here didn’t want the bank inspectors to find it,” the appraiser said, turning the tag over in his hand.

“If an appraisal tag stays unverified past noon today, the bank pushes the default file straight to immediate asset seizure on November eighteenth.”

He untwisted the wire loop and handed me the plastic tag.

The bold black letters stamped into the yellow surface read: Official Foreclosure Appraisal Tag – Ridgefield National Bank Default Enforcement Division.

I held the cold plastic tag in my palm next to Pembroke’s sealed envelope and turned toward the main house.

Fifty yards away, Victoria stood behind the tall glass window of the sunroom, her hand resting motionless on the frame as she watched me.