Finally, a new voicemail notification appeared on my screen.

He was sobbing uncontrollably into the speaker.

“Please come back home, Claire.

Something terrible just happened to Mom.”

I could hear Brenda screaming hysterically in the background behind him.

Then I heard a completely strange, calm voice speak into the line.

“Sir, before we proceed any further, we need to speak directly with the legal owner of this property.”

I sat upright in my bed, completely bewildered by what I was hearing.