Chapter 10 - The Real NumberThe Property Was Worth More Than Anyone Told MeA private appraiser arrived two days later.
Then another.
Then a third.
They all gave different numbers.
But none were close to the original $2.1 million offer.
The lowest estimate was $4.7 million.
The highest was $6.3 million.
I stared at the paperwork.
Dad sat quietly.
“This is why?”
He nodded.
“This is why Beaumont kept coming.”
I thought about Karen.
Her parents.
Thomas Vale.
The forged signatures.
The credit line.
The lie about my father's smell.
It all suddenly made sense.
They hadn't wanted a Thanksgiving table.
They wanted my father away from the table.
Away from me.
Away from the truth.
I looked at Dad.
“What do we do?”
He surprised me.
“Nothing.”
“What?”
“We don't sell.”
“Not even for six million?”
He looked at me.
“Your mother didn't protect this so some corporation could pave over it.”
“So what happens?”
Dad smiled.
“You decide.”
That sentence sat with me all night.
The next morning, I met with city officials.
The land was strategically located.
A redevelopment corridor was planned nearby.
If Beaumont controlled it, several projects could connect.
But the old shop could become something else.
A community automotive training center.
A place where young people could learn mechanics.
A memorial to my father.
I told Dad.
He laughed.
“You want to make my dirty old garage a school?”
“Yes.”
He shook his head.
“Your mother would love that.”
Then Karen called.
I nearly ignored her.
But I answered.
“Why?”
“I need to see you.”
“No.”
“Please.”
“There's nothing left to discuss.”
“That's not true.”
Her voice was trembling.
“My parents lied to me.”
I stayed silent.
“What do you mean?”
“They never intended to help me.”
My stomach tightened.
“They were using me.”
“How?”
“They promised me money.”
“And?”
“They told me I would be protected.”
“Were you?”
“No.”
She began crying.
“They used my name too.”
I frowned.
“What did they sign?”
“I don't know.”
“Karen.”
“I found something.”
“What?”
“Your father's property wasn't the only thing they were trying to control.”
I waited.
“My father's restaurant.”
I almost laughed.
“What does that have to do with me?”
“They pledged it against the same debt.”
I stared at the wall.
“His restaurant is worth what?”
“Maybe eight hundred thousand.”
“And he owes two hundred and eighty thousand?”
“Yes.”
“So why was he going after a six-million-dollar property?”
She went silent.
Then whispered:
“Because he had another debt.”
“How much?”
“Two million.”
I felt sick.
“Who does he owe?”
She said one name.
“Thomas Vale.”
The room went cold.
Richard Monroe wasn't the mastermind.
He was another debtor.
Another man trapped by Thomas Vale.
Karen had been a weapon.
So had her parents.
But Thomas was playing the entire board.
That afternoon, Melissa called.
“We found something.”
“What?”
“The forged lien didn't come from Karen.”
My stomach tightened.
“Who filed it?”
“Beaumont.”
“Through Thomas?”
“Yes.”
Then she said:
“And there's more.”
“What?”
“Thomas isn't trying to buy the land.”
I frowned.
“Then what does he want?”
Melissa paused.
“He wants you to default.”
“On what?”
“The fake debt.”
I stared.
“So they were trying to create a debt, force a foreclosure, and take the property.”
“Exactly.”
The whole plan had been built around making me look financially irresponsible.
My wife would then testify that I knew about the debts.
Her parents would support the story.
Thomas would present the forged documents.
And the land would disappear.
I suddenly understood Karen's Thanksgiving strategy.
She hadn't merely wanted my father excluded.
She wanted me emotionally cornered.
When I chose her over my father, I would've been easier to manipulate.
Instead, I chose Dad.
And that one decision had broken their entire plan.
Melissa ended the call.
“Rick, there is one thing you still need to know.”
“What?”
“We traced the first forged document.”
“Where?”
She answered:
“Your house.”
I froze.
“How?”
“It was printed on your home printer.”
I looked toward the office.
Then remembered the black folder.
And the unlocked desk.
My wife had created the evidence in the room where we once planned vacations.
May you like
Now it was the room where she had almost destroyed my life.
:::
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