“Not yet.”
“Why?”
“They’re reviewing the security footage.”
“And?”
“They have enough.”
A cold feeling settled in my chest.
“Enough for what?”
“Enough to show that he physically removed you from the property.”
I stared at the ceiling.
“Good.”
There was a brief silence.
Then Samantha spoke carefully.
“Victoria, I need you to listen.”
I sat up slightly.
“Okay.”
“I went to the county recorder’s office.”
“And?”
“The deed is exactly as you described. You are a joint owner.”
I closed my eyes.
“I knew it.”
“But that’s not the strange part.”
My stomach tightened.
“What is?”
“There’s another document attached to the property records.”
“What kind of document?”
“A transfer restriction.”
I frowned.
“I don’t understand.”
“Neither did I at first.”
“What does it say?”
Samantha lowered her voice.
“It says that if anyone tries to sell, transfer, mortgage, or otherwise dispose of the property without your written consent, ownership automatically triggers a protective trust.”
I swallowed.
“A protective trust?”
“Yes.”
“For whom?”
“You.”
I almost laughed.
Not because anything was funny.
Because none of it made sense.
“Why would Lucas arrange that?”
“I asked myself the same question.”
“And?”
“He left me a letter.”
My breathing stopped.
“A letter?”
“Yes.”
“From Lucas?”
