Chapter 5 - THE OFFER ON THE WHITE-PILLARED HOUSE
Marjorie called me twenty-seven times before I answered.
I recorded the call openly after telling her that I was documenting our conversation.
"This childish performance ends today," she said.
"My offer on the house expires Friday."
"Then you'll need to arrange your own financing."
"Your father didn't spend his life building a business for you to embarrass your husband."
I almost laughed at the cruelty of that sentence.
"My father built his business before Ethan ever learned my name."
"He was a mechanic," she spat.
"A man with dirty hands, and you want to worship him because he left property behind?"
My hands trembled.
Not with doubt, but with the effort required to remain calm.
"You said something different at his funeral."
A long silence followed.
"I'm willing to forgive your grief," she finally said.
"I'm not asking for forgiveness."
I ended the call.
Nora obtained records showing that Marjorie had put down a large earnest-money deposit on the colonial house using funds advanced by Northstar.
If the financing failed, she risked losing a portion of the deposit.
She had gambled money she did not have on an inheritance she did not control.
That afternoon, the real-estate agent contacted me at Marjorie's request.
I told the agent I was not a party to the purchase and could not guarantee any funds.
The agent sounded relieved.
"I appreciate the clarification," she said.
"Someone represented you as a silent partner."
I asked for that statement in writing.
She agreed to send it to Martin.
When I returned to the hotel, a package sat at reception.
Inside was one of my father's old work gloves.
It had been cut across the palm.
There was no note, only a smear of machine grease on the tissue paper.
I held it carefully by the cuff.
Dad had repaired engines wearing gloves just like this.
Nora photographed the package and arranged to turn it over to the police.
On the underside of the box, in handwriting I recognized as Ethan's, were three words.
May you like
"Last chance, Lydia."
