“Because your grandfather required any transfer to be witnessed by me in person.”
Detective Beckett leaned toward the phone.
“Mr. Grayson, can you send those records to law enforcement?”
“I can send copies immediately, but there’s something else.”
A strange pressure built in my chest.
“What?”
“This morning, a deed was filed transferring your parents’ residence and two adjacent parcels to Melrose Residential Partners.”
The hospital room seemed to tilt.
Wyatt gripped the bedrail.
“The attack happened tonight,” he said.
“Yes.”
“Then the transfer was filed before Sadie arrived at the house.”
“Yes.”
Detective Beckett’s expression became grim.
“That suggests premeditation.”
Mr. Grayson lowered his voice.
“It suggests they expected Sadie to be unable to challenge the documents.”
My right hand began trembling.
Unable.
Dead?
Unconscious?
Disfigured and broken enough to disappear?
I remembered my mother’s laugh.
**Let’s see if Wyatt still loves you with that face.**
Maybe the attack had never been only about Wyatt.
Maybe Melanie’s obsession with him had been the perfect excuse.
A story they could use to disguise a much older, uglier motive.
Wyatt saw the realization on my face.
“They wanted the trust,” he whispered.
“And they wanted me out of the way.”
Detective Beckett stepped into the hallway and made a call.
Within minutes, officers were sent back to my parents’ house with instructions to secure computers, financial records, and any documents connected to Melrose Residential Partners.
Then Beckett received a message.
