Chapter 3 - The Forged Deed
The silence in my kitchen was absolutely deafening.
"You cannot just forge a deed transfer, Melissa, it requires a certified notary," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Oh, it was notarized perfectly by my good friend Thomas," she replied with a sickly sweet tone.
I knew exactly who Thomas was.
He was a corrupt local lawyer who had helped Melissa dodge a messy bankruptcy three years ago.
"You and Dad are going to federal prison for wire fraud and forgery," I warned her.
Melissa simply let out a loud, theatrical sigh.
"By the time you drag us into court, the house will be sold to a cash buyer, and the money will be offshore."
She hung up the phone before I could say another word.
I looked at Laura, realizing that my family had been planning this massive theft for months.
They had never intended to let me keep the house I bought for them.
The dinner invitation was just a distraction to keep me busy while the final paperwork was filed.
First thing Monday morning, I walked into the best real estate litigation firm in the city.
I slapped my original mortgage documents and the bank statements down on the mahogany desk.
My attorney, a sharp woman named Sarah, reviewed the files with a deep frown.
"They filed the forged quitclaim deed on Friday afternoon right before the county clerk's office closed," Sarah explained.
"We need to file an emergency injunction to freeze the property before they can sell it," I demanded.
Sarah typed rapidly on her computer, accessing the county's digital real estate records.
Her hands suddenly stopped moving over the keyboard.
"Jack, I cannot file an injunction on this property," she whispered in shock.
May you like
"Why not?" I asked, a cold knot forming in my stomach.
"Because the county records show that you are completely legally deceased."
