Chapter 2: The House That No Longer Belonged to Her
Rose stood in front of her home as if she were looking at a stranger's grave.
For fifty-two years, the little white house had been the center of her life.
Her husband, Thomas, had painted the shutters blue because she once mentioned that the color reminded her of the ocean. He had planted two maple trees in the front yard when their daughter was born.
There had been birthday parties on the porch.
Christmas mornings around the fireplace.
Arguments, apologies, laughter, and the ordinary little moments that made a house a home.
Now the porch was bare.
The flower beds were empty.
Even the brass number beside the door had been removed.
Rose reached for the railing.
“They took everything.””
Marcus stood beside her.
“Let's not assume anything yet.””
“I know that rocking chair is gone. Thomas made it for me. He carved our initials underneath the seat.””
Ethan walked around the side of the property.
“Marcus!””
He pointed toward the back door.
The lock had been replaced there, too.
Jake examined the front door.
“Fresh hardware. Whoever changed this didn't do it yesterday.””
Daniel picked up the empty ceramic planter beside the steps.
“There's dirt still in here. They didn't even bother cleaning up.””
Rose sank onto the bottom porch step.
“My husband died in this house.””
Marcus crouched beside her.
“Rose, I'm going to open that envelope. Is that okay?””
She nodded.
Inside were several documents, including a property transfer agreement, a notarized authorization, and a deed listing a company called Bennett Residential Holdings as the new owner.
Rose stared at the signature.
“That isn't my handwriting.””
Marcus studied the page.
The signature looked remarkably similar to hers.
But something was wrong.
“Have you ever signed anything transferring your house?””
“Never.””
Ethan took the document and examined the date.
“Marcus, look.””
The authorization was dated October 8.
Rose frowned.
“That's the day I was in the hospital.””
“Are you sure?”” Ethan asked.
“Positive. I was admitted on October 7 and discharged on October 10. My daughter was there when I woke up.””
Marcus looked at the notarization.
The document claimed Rose had personally appeared before a notary at 2:15 p.m. on October 8.
But Rose had been receiving medical treatment at a hospital nearly twenty miles away.
“That's impossible,” Jake said.
Rose pressed her palm against her forehead.
“Linda said she needed my signature on insurance papers. She brought a folder to the hospital.””
Marcus looked up sharply.
“Did you sign anything?””
“I remember signing a form about my medical information. She said it was necessary so she could speak to the doctors.””
“Did you read it?””
Rose looked ashamed.
“No. I had just been given medication. I was tired.””
Daniel muttered something under his breath.
Marcus took out his phone.
“We're contacting the police.””
Rose suddenly grabbed his sleeve.
“Wait.””
He lowered the phone.
“What is it?””
“My grandson.””
“Your grandson?””
“Caleb. He's sixteen. He lives here with Linda.””
Jake looked at the house.
“Is he inside?””
“He should be.””
Marcus knocked hard.
No answer.
Ethan tried calling the number listed on the old emergency contact card Rose had given him. The call went straight to voicemail.
Rose looked toward the upstairs window.
“Caleb always leaves the curtains open.””
Daniel walked toward the side gate.
“I'm checking the backyard.””
A few seconds later, he returned.
“There's a basement window open.””
Marcus frowned.
“Open?””
“Just a little. Looks like someone forced it.””
Rose stood up.
“Caleb?””
She called his name.
Nothing.
Then a sound came from behind the house.
A metallic crash.
All four men turned.
A teenage boy came running around the corner.
He wore a gray sweatshirt, one shoe, and a backpack hanging from one shoulder. His face was pale, and his right hand was bleeding.
“Grandma!””
Rose nearly stumbled as she rushed toward him.
“Caleb!””
He wrapped his arms around her.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Rose pulled back and examined his face.
“Sweetheart, what happened? Why are you bleeding?””
“It's nothing.””
“Where's your mother?””
Caleb looked over his shoulder.
Then his eyes moved to the four bikers.
“Who are they?””
“Friends,” Rose said.
“They brought me home.””
Caleb's expression changed.
“Grandma, you shouldn't have come back.””
Rose froze.
“What?””
He looked toward the house.
Then toward the road.
His voice dropped to a whisper.
“Grandma… Mom isn't the one you should be afraid of.””
Marcus stepped forward.
“Who should she be afraid of?””
Caleb swallowed.
“My father.””
Rose's face went white.
Her grandson's father, Michael, had died when Caleb was four.
At least, that was what Linda had told everyone.
Rose slowly shook her head.
“Caleb, your father is dead.””
“No, Grandma.””
The boy's voice cracked.
“He isn't.””
Ethan moved closer.
“Son, take a breath. Start from the beginning.””
Caleb looked at Rose.
“Mom told everyone Dad died in a car accident. But he didn't. He left because he was in trouble with some people. He came back three months ago.””
Rose grabbed the porch railing.
“Your father has been here?””
Caleb nodded.
“And he knows about the house.””
Marcus glanced at the paperwork.
“What does he want?””
Caleb opened his backpack and pulled out a folded photograph.
It showed Linda standing in front of the house beside a man wearing a dark jacket.
Rose recognized the man immediately.
Michael Bennett.
Her son-in-law.
But there was something else in the photograph.
On the back, someone had written a date and a short message.
*November 1. Closing day. Once Rose is gone, everything belongs to us.*
Marcus looked at the date.
Tomorrow.
Then Caleb whispered something that made every man go still.
“Mom thinks Grandma is still on that bus. She doesn't know you've brought her back.””
A phone began ringing inside the house.
Caleb looked toward the kitchen window.
His lips parted.
“That's Dad's phone.””
Marcus reached for his own.
“I'm calling the police.””
But before he could dial, a man's voice came through the open basement window.
“Caleb? I know you're out there.””
The boy grabbed Rose's hand.
May you like
Then the voice added:
“Bring your grandmother inside. We need to finish what we started.””
