“You’ve just inherited a mountain of debt and a lawsuit,” Marcus said.

“We’ll see about that,” Lydia Crane said, taking the signed document from Blake.

She scanned it quickly, nodded, and placed it in her briefcase.

“This will be filed with the county clerk’s office first thing in the morning,” Lydia said.

“What about Warren Bellamy?” Aunt Caroline asked, her voice cracking.

“Mr. Bellamy is currently at his office,” Lydia said, looking at her watch. “Or what’s left of it.”

She looked back at Marcus, her expression hardening.

“The district attorney’s office has already executed a search warrant on his files,” Lydia said.

“Warren won’t talk,” Marcus said, though his voice lacked conviction. “He’s too deep in this.”

“People talk when they face twenty years for land fraud,” Blake said.

Lydia’s phone buzzed in her pocket.

She pulled it out, read the screen, and stepped toward the window overlooking the foggy driveway.

“Yes, this is Lydia,” she said into the phone.

The rest of us stood in the drafty hallway, the silence heavy between us.

Marcus stared at the floor, his hands shoved deep into his pockets.