Chapter 9: Richard's Version
Richard's solicitor released a statement at nine the following morning.
Patricia read it to me over the phone while I stood in the school car park watching Lily walk through the gates.
"He's blaming Daniel entirely," she said.
"The statement claims Richard received the deed transfer in good faith, that he had no knowledge the signature was forged, and that he entered the sale agreement believing the property had been legitimately transferred."
"And the voicemail?"
"His solicitor will argue it was a private family communication taken out of context." A pause.
"It won't hold.
But that's the position."
"What about the development company?"
"They've already withdrawn from the sale.
The injunction spooked them.
They have no appetite for a property with a fraud dispute attached." I heard papers shifting.
"Emma, Daniel's interview was this morning.
He gave a full account.
He confirmed the forgery, confirmed Richard's instruction, confirmed the timeline."
"How did that land?"
"DS Marsh called me an hour ago.
He said Daniel was cooperative and consistent." Another pause.
"Richard was brought in at half eight.
He declined to answer questions and left with his solicitor after forty minutes."
"Of course he did."
"It doesn't help him.
Daniel's account is detailed and specific.
Carol's documents corroborate the sale.
The voicemail corroborates the threat.
Richard's silence just means he doesn't get to shape the narrative."
Lily had reached the door.
She turned and waved at me before going inside.
I waved back.
"Patricia," I said.
"When does the deed revert?"
"I'm filing the application today.
Given the fraudulent transfer, it should be straightforward.
The house never legally left your name." A beat.
"It was always yours, Emma.
They just tried to take it."
I drove home.
Richard called at eleven.
I looked at the screen for two full rings.
Then I answered.
"Emma." His voice was smooth.
Practiced.
The voice he used at dinner parties.
"I think we need to talk.
Directly.
Without solicitors making everything more complicated than it needs to be."
"I'm listening."
"This has gone much further than anyone intended.
Daniel made a serious error in judgment.
I think we can both agree on that.
But involving the police — that affects Lily.
That affects your family.
Surely that's not what you want."
"Richard.
You pulled a chair out from under my five-year-old daughter."
A brief pause.
"That was wrong.
I've already told Daniel I regret it."
"You told Daniel."
"I'm telling you now."
"And the deed?"
"I am prepared to sign it back.
Today.
No conditions.
I just need you to speak to your solicitor about the fraud investigation.
Explain that this was a family misunderstanding.
That you don't wish to pursue—"
"No."
Silence.
"Emma—"
"You forged my name, Richard.
Or you directed my husband to.
You placed a lien on my mother's house.
You negotiated a sale for four hundred and twenty thousand pounds without my knowledge or consent.
And then you left a voicemail threatening my daughter." I kept my voice completely flat.
"You don't get to call that a misunderstanding."
"You are making a very serious mistake."
"You made yours fourteen months ago."
"If this goes to prosecution—"
"Then it goes to prosecution."
Another silence.
Longer this time.
When he spoke again the dinner-party voice was gone.
"You have no idea what I can do," he said.
"I have some idea," I said.
"Carol told me quite a lot."
The line went dead.
I set the phone on the table.
My hands were still steady.
I noticed that again.
I thought about what kind of year it must have taken to produce hands that steady.
Patricia called back at two.
"Richard's solicitor just contacted me," she said, and I could hear something careful in her voice.
"Richard is prepared to cooperate with the investigation.
Full cooperation.
In exchange for reduced charges."
"He's going to give them something."
"Yes.
Apparently the development company is not the only party involved.
There are two other properties.
Other families." A pause.
"Emma.
Richard has been doing this for longer than fourteen months.
Your mother's house was not the first."
I sat down.
"How many?"
"They don't know yet.
But DS Marsh says this is now a significantly larger investigation."
I thought about Carol's face in the café.
*He has been saying that to people for twenty years.
No one has ever called his bluff.*
"Patricia," I said.
May you like
"Make sure the other families know they can come forward."
"Already in hand."
