Carter forced a nervous laugh.
“Sheriff, this is just a family misunderstanding.”
Dalton glanced at my bruised cheek.
“That’s a pretty loud misunderstanding.”
My attorney, Rebecca Sloan, calmly opened her folder.
“Earlier today,” she announced, “my office filed an emergency injunction blocking any sale, transfer, or development agreement involving Hollow Creek Farm.”
Vanessa stepped forward furiously.
“You can’t do that!”
Rebecca barely looked at her.
“We already did.”
Carter’s expression darkened.
“On what grounds?”
Rebecca flipped open the file.
“Forgery. Financial exploitation. Fraud conspiracy. Coercion. And assault.”
The words hit the crowd like thunder.
Emily stared at Carter in horror.
“Forgery?”
He turned toward her instantly.
“Don’t start falling for your mother’s lies.”
Rebecca calmly lifted several documents.
“The development agreement includes Helen Carter’s forged signature. We had handwriting experts review it this morning. We also subpoenaed the notary records.”
Vanessa went completely pale.
And suddenly Carter realized the mistake that would destroy them.
The notary was Vanessa’s bridge club friend.
