Why would they buy their own family land through a fake company at a fraction of its value?

My eyes fell on the unusual survey lines on the map Graham had signed.

I opened the Loudoun County Planning and Zoning portal.

I navigated to the pending infrastructure and highway proposals map.

Most of the public maps showed nothing unusual for our sector of the ridge.

I logged into the county’s archival database using the old password Grandmother Eleanor had kept in her personal directory.

I searched for private utility easements and state transport surveys.

A restricted file appeared on the screen: *Project 48-Bypass/State Corridor Initiative*.

I downloaded the PDF map and zoomed in.

The red survey lines matched Graham’s map exactly.

The state was planning a major, multi-lane bypass highway to connect the growing tech corridor to the interstate.

And the proposed route ran directly through the center of Blackthorn Ridge.

The state-funded project was scheduled for public announcement next month.

I stared at the screen, the pieces of the puzzle falling into place.