Chapter 8: What the Court Recorded
The DA's office moved faster than Dana had predicted.
Gerald Fitch was taken into custody on a Thursday.
Raymond followed two days later.
The charges included forgery, fraud, conspiracy to commit property theft, and — because of the call to my father — wire fraud.
Dana called me when the warrants were executed.
"Gerald's attorney is already talking," she said.
"He's trying to negotiate.
Apparently there are two other properties.
Two other victims who never figured out what happened to their titles."
I was at my desk at work.
I set down my pen.
"Two others."
"The DA is contacting them now.
Your footage and your father's voicemail broke the whole thing open.
Without that, those two families might never have known."
I looked out the window at the parking lot below.
"What about Zachary?"
"Charged yesterday.
Conspiracy to commit forgery and fraud.
His attorney's cooperation offer was rejected — the footage was too clear." A pause.
"He's out on bail.
The case will take time to move through the court.
But Charlotte, the evidence is overwhelming.
His attorney knows it."
"And Brenda?"
"Charged this morning.
Conspiracy, fraud, and the @ssault from the morning at your apartment — the officers documented your injuries and the burn.
She's out on bail as well."
I thought about Brenda walking into my kitchen with her grocery bags.
The House Rules sheet.
The way she had smiled when she said *you have no idea what's already been filed.*
"Is the forged deed voided?"
"Court order came through Tuesday.
Your name is the only name on that deed.
The apartment is entirely yours."
I exhaled slowly.
"Dana.
Thank you."
"You had the camera," she said.
"You had the presence of mind to call the police instead of backing down.
You did this."
After I hung up, I sat quietly for a moment.
Then I opened my desk drawer and took out the copy of the deed I had placed on the kitchen table that morning — the morning that felt like it belonged to a different year.
I had carried it with me without quite knowing why.
I looked at my name on it.
Charlotte Anne Mercer.
My name.
My signature.
May you like
My apartment.
I folded it carefully and put it back.
