Once inside, I locked the heavy oak door behind me and turned the deadbolt.

My hands trembled as I opened my laptop on the wooden worktable.

I pulled the papers from my satchel and spread them out under the desk lamp.

The name *Cypress Meridian* stared back at me from the preliminary purchase agreement.

I opened the Virginia State Corporation Commission database on my screen.

I typed the name into the search bar.

The registration file was active, incorporated just six months ago.

The listed address was a post office box in Richmond.

I clicked on the filing history and downloaded the original articles of organization.

My eyes scanned the scanned document.

The organizing member was listed as a local holding company called B.R. Land Trust.

I dug deeper, pulling up the state tax records for that specific trust.

Two names were listed as the sole managing partners.

Graham Vance and Celeste Vance.

They had created a shell company to buy the family estate from under me.

And they were trying to do it for a pittance.