“Do not let anyone leave that property with those papers.

We have a serious legal emergency, and it is bigger than whatever you’re looking at right now.”

Chapter 5 — A Serious Legal Emergency

Lorraine got to the lake before Shawn did.

She photographed every inch of the forged deed, sent the files straight to the county land-records office, and asked Deputy Grady to hold the original as evidence.

Then she drew me down to the end of the dock, away from the others, where the only witness was the water.

“Someone recorded this deed at the courthouse last Friday,” she said quietly.