Chapter 6: The Thing Patricia Did Not Know Natalie Had
Gerald's next move came eight days before closing.
It was not a legal filing.
Rachel called me at 8 a.m., her voice carrying the careful neutrality she used when something was wrong but she didn't want to alarm me before she had the full picture.
"There's a journalist," she said.
"Local business press.
He called the office yesterday asking about the Brookhaven property sale.
He mentioned Ethan by name.
He mentioned you by name.
He asked whether there was a legal dispute connected to the transaction."
I sat up straighter.
"Who called him?"
"I don't know yet.
But Andrew Parker says the same journalist contacted his office this morning."
Someone was trying to make the sale look dirty.
If a story ran suggesting the property was in active legal dispute, the buyer's lender — even in a cash deal — might get nervous.
Buyers got nervous too.
Twenty-one days was a short window, but it was long enough for doubt to do damage.
"Find out who the journalist's source is," I said.
"And call Claire."
---
Claire already knew.
"Gerald's associate made two calls yesterday," she said.
"I have reason to believe one of them was to the journalist.
I can't prove it yet, but the timing is not a coincidence."
"Is this sanctionable?"
"Potentially.
If I can show the calls were made to interfere with a legitimate property transaction, yes.
But right now I need something faster than a sanctions motion."
"What do you need?"
"I need the buyer's attorney to hear from you directly.
Not through Andrew.
Not through me.
From you, attorney to attorney, with the full title package in hand.
I need him to understand exactly what he's buying and exactly why there is no legitimate cloud on this title."
"Set up the call," I said.
"Today?"
"Now."
---
The call lasted forty minutes.
The buyer's attorney — a careful, methodical man named Douglas Herne — asked good questions.
I answered every one of them.
I walked him through the purchase history, the title insurance, the pre-marital timeline, the TRO denial.
I sent him Judge Harmon's written order while we were still on the phone.
At the end, Douglas said, "I appreciate your transparency, Ms.
Calloway."
"My client wants to close," I said.
"So do I.
Nothing about this transaction is complicated except the noise around it."
"Agreed," he said.
"We'll proceed as scheduled."
I thanked him and hung up.
Rachel was waiting outside Linda's spare room when I opened the door.
"Well?" she said.
"We're still on track."
She let out a breath.
"Good.
Also —" She held up her phone.
"Patricia called the office.
She left a voicemail.
She said she has information that will change your position significantly and that you should call her before you do something you can't undo."
I looked at the phone.
"Save the voicemail," I said.
"Don't return the call."
"What do you think she has?"
I thought about Patricia.
About four years of watching her move through rooms as if she owned everything in them, including the people.
"I think she has nothing," I said.
"But I think she's spent the last ten days convincing herself otherwise."
Rachel nodded slowly.
"And if she does have something?"
I picked up my daughter from the bassinet and settled her against my shoulder.
"Then I'll find out what it is," I said.
"And I'll deal with it."
But that night, after Linda had gone to bed and the house was quiet, I sat with my daughter in the dark and let myself wonder, just for a moment, whether Patricia actually had something I hadn't anticipated.
I had been careful.
May you like
I had been thorough.
But Patricia had been watching me for four years too.
