Chapter 6: The Morning of the Closing
Gregory texted at nine.
*The appointment is at two.
I'll meet you there.
Bring your ID.
This is the right thing for both of us.*
Alison read it at Daniel's office, where she had been since eight.
She showed it to Daniel without comment.
"He still thinks the closing is happening," she said.
"He does." Daniel was on his second coffee.
"Warren Schultz's office has not been informed of the title freeze yet.
I want them to arrive."
Christopher was on the phone in the corner, speaking quietly to someone at the county recorder's office.
He had been making calls since seven.
The woman from the photograph — her name was Patricia Holt — had spoken to Alison by video call the night before for forty minutes.
She had lost her apartment three years ago on a Tuesday.
She had come home from work to find a locksmith changing the locks and a letter from a property management company informing her that the unit had been sold and that she had thirty days to vacate.
She had never gotten her money.
She had never gotten an explanation.
She had spent two years trying to find the man who had done it and another year trying to find anyone who would listen.
"He uses different names," Patricia had said.
"When he came to me, he called himself Gerald.
Gerald Marsh.
But the photograph you sent me — that's him.
Same jaw.
Same eyes.
Same way of tilting his head when he thinks he's being charming."
"Did he have a partner?" Alison had asked.
"A woman.
She helped him get access to my notary records.
I never found out who she was."
Alison had looked at the wall for a moment.
"I think I know who she was," she had said.
Now, at Daniel's office, the clock read eleven forty-three.
Alison's phone buzzed.
Gregory again.
*Don't bring your mother.
This is between us.*
She showed it to Daniel.
"He's nervous," Daniel said.
"He doesn't sound nervous."
"He's telling you not to bring your mother.
That means he's worried about witnesses." Daniel set his coffee down.
"He knows something is off.
He just doesn't know how much."
At twelve-fifteen, Daniel received a call from the county recorder's office.
He listened for ninety seconds and said thank you and hung up.
"The title freeze is confirmed and on record," he said.
"Any attempt to transfer today will be flagged immediately and rejected."
"And the police?" Christopher asked.
"Detective Okafor is aware of the situation.
She reviewed the notary stamp trail and Patricia Holt's original complaint last night.
She is prepared to move if Gregory and Schultz arrive together and attempt to execute the transaction." Daniel paused.
"She needs them to attempt it.
She needs them in the room."
"So we need Gregory to actually show up," Alison said.
"Yes."
She picked up her phone and typed a reply to Gregory's last message.
*I'll be there.
Just me.*
The response came in eleven seconds.
*Good.
See you at two.
Bring a pen.*
Alison put the phone in her bag.
Christopher looked at her across the desk.
"You don't have to go in," he said.
"Daniel can handle it from outside.
Detective Okafor will be inside."
"I know."
"Alison—"
"He stood in my daughter's room in the dark," she said.
"He forged my name.
He did this to at least two other women before me.
He had my mother's address." She picked up her bag.
"I'm going to be in that room."
May you like
Christopher looked at her for another moment.
Then he nodded once and reached for his keys.
