Chapter 4
Thomas pointed to several tiny handwritten notations.
“Evelyn’s father, Samuel Harper, purchased the tract from the Hollis family.”
Rachel knew the name.
“Black Laurel used to belong to timber companies.”
“Large portions did. The Hollis tract was unusual because it remained privately held through several timber consolidations.”
Thomas removed another page.
“This is the granting deed.”
Rachel scanned the legal language.
Most of it meant little to her.
“Go to the second page.”
She did.
Thomas tapped a paragraph.
“Read the last four lines.”
Rachel read slowly.
Together with all rights appurtenant thereto, including perpetual rights of ingress and egress over Black Laurel Spur and all riparian, spring, diversion, and reservoir privileges conveyed under instrument recorded Book 204, Page 117…
Rachel stopped.
“Reservoir?”
Thomas nodded.
“What reservoir?”
“That is the first question.”
“The first?”
Thomas pulled out another document.
A modern map.
Colored parcels spread across the mountain.
Rachel immediately recognized a name printed across hundreds of acres east of Evelyn’s property.
RIDGELINE HOLDINGS LLC.
Her chest tightened.
Daniel’s development company used Ridgeline Holdings for land acquisitions.
“Bennett Ridge owns this?”
“Ridgeline Holdings does.”
“That’s one of Daniel’s LLCs.”
“I suspected it might be.”
Rachel stared.
The acreage wrapped around Aunt Evelyn’s land on three sides.
“How much?”
“Approximately eleven hundred acres accumulated through seven purchases over five years.”
Rachel looked up.
“Five years?”
“Yes.”
Daniel had been buying around Evelyn’s cabin for five years.
“Why?”
Thomas removed a glossy brochure.
She recognized the rendering.
Luxury homes.
A lodge.
A golf course.
A private lake.
Mountain Crest Preserve.
Bennett Ridge Development’s largest planned project.
Daniel had been talking about it for three years.
He had told Rachel the final land package was nearly complete.
He had told investors permitting was progressing.
He had told banks the water plan was secured.
Rachel’s eyes dropped to the blue lake printed in the center of the rendering.
A lake that did not currently exist.
“Where is that supposed to be?”
Thomas pointed at the old survey.
Then at a narrow valley below Evelyn’s property.
“The planned reservoir site appears to be here.”
Rachel’s pulse slowed instead of quickening.
That always happened when something became serious.
Her mind cleared.
“Does Daniel need my land to build it?”
“That is the second question.”
“What’s the answer?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“Thomas.”
“I don’t.”
He removed a handwritten envelope from the box.
Rachel’s name was written across the front.
The handwriting was shaky.
Evelyn’s.
“I was instructed to give you this only after you personally appeared in my office.”
Rachel took it.
The envelope had been sealed with ordinary tape.
She opened it carefully.
Inside was one sheet of lined paper.
Rachel—
If Thomas is giving you this, I am gone and you came yourself.
Good.
May you like
Do not sell Black Laurel.
Not to Daniel.
