The clerk read the document, her eyebrows rising.

She looked from the paper to Kelsey, and then to Trevor, whose hands had stopped moving.

“What is the meaning of this?” Judge Whitaker asked, leaning forward over his bench.

The clerk cleared her throat.

“Your Honor, this is a certified deed for parcel 402, which directly borders the respondent’s property,” the clerk said.

Her voice carried clearly through the quiet room.

“The deed was recorded at nine-thirty this morning.”

Judge Whitaker leaned his chin on his hand.

“And who is the buyer of record, Ms. Gable?” he asked.

The clerk adjusted her glasses and looked down at the paper.

“The purchaser is Apex Mountain Holdings LLC,” she said.

I watched Trevor’s jaw tighten.

He reached down and slowly zipped his leather briefcase shut.

“Can you identify the principals of that limited liability company?” the judge asked.

“According to the state registry printout attached, the sole members of Apex Mountain Holdings are Trevor Pike and Kelsey Pike,” the clerk said.

Kelsey stared straight ahead, her face turning the color of chalk.