“How?” Caroline asked.

“The county cannot approve any zoning changes for a historic burial ground,” Lydia said.

“But what about the debt?” Caroline asked, her voice rising.

“Marcus took loans against the house,” Caroline said. “The bank will still foreclose on the main building.”

“Marcus used forged documents to secure those loans,” I said.

“That is bank fraud,” Lydia said.

“The state will freeze his assets tomorrow morning,” Lydia added.

“Will that save Mercer House?” Caroline asked.

“It means the loans are invalid because the collateral was never legally his to pledge,” Lydia said.

“But we still have to pay the back taxes,” I said.

“The county will work with you once the fraud is officially documented,” Lydia said.

“We have to prove Marcus diverted family funds,” I said.

“I can help with that,” Caroline said, looking down at her tea.

She set the cup on the side table and stood up.

“I have the ledger books Marcus kept in the study,” Caroline said.

“I thought he took them,” I said.

“I hid them in the pantry behind the flour bin,” Caroline said.