There was a pause on the line.

“Marisol doesn’t usually attend these closings in person,” Harper said. “She has people for that.”

“Tell her that if she wants Blackthorn Ridge, she has to look me in the eye when I sign it over,” I said.

“She might refuse,” Harper said.

“She won’t,” I replied. “She’s been waiting thirty years for this. She’ll want to see the family lose.”

Another silence stretched over the phone.

“I will make the call,” Harper said. “But you are playing a dangerous game.”

“It’s the only game left,” I said.

I hung up and looked at Arthur.

He looked older, his face lined with worry under the bright kitchen lights.

“We need to contact Alden Vale,” I said.

“Alden?” Arthur asked. “The family lawyer?”

“Yes,” I said. “He knows Graham’s power of attorney is a forgery. He’s just been too afraid to speak up.”

“He won’t risk his career,” Arthur said.

“He will if he knows we have this,” I said, pointing to the easement. “If he stays quiet now, he becomes an accomplice to fraud.”