Chapter 5 - The Missing Deed5
The mention of property deeds sent an immediate shockwave through my system. I let go of Hannah’s hand for a moment, pressing my fingers against my temples as my mind raced back through the events of the past year.
When Hannah and I had purchased our suburban home two years ago, we used a combination of my savings and a generous down-payment grant provided by my father’s life insurance policy after he passed away. Patricia had thrown a massive, months-long temper tantrum because my name and Hannah’s name were both on the title. She had insisted, day in and day out, that mothers deserved absolute security, that “wives come and go,” and that I was a fool for trusting a woman with my generational wealth.
We had locked the official closing documents, title deeds, and secondary mortgage notes in our home office safe—a heavy biometric safe bolted to the floor in the back corner of the closet.
“The home office safe,” I murmured, looking up at Detective Miller. “My mother has been obsessed with our property title since the day we closed on the house. She wanted it in her name. When we refused, she acted like we had committed a personal crime against her.”
Detective Miller’s eyes narrowed. “Did she know the combination?”
I shook my head slowly. “No. At least, I didn't think she did. I set it using a combination only Hannah and I knew—our wedding anniversary date combined with Owen’s due date.”
Hannah stirred against her pillows, her expression turning suddenly anxious. “Ethan… remember three weeks ago when your mother came over to help clean the kitchen before the baby arrived?” she rasped, speaking with more force than before. “She was standing right outside your office door while you were on a conference call. You had the safe open to pull out your tax returns.”
The memory hit me like a lightning bolt. I had left the safe open for less than two minutes while running downstairs to grab a ringing landline phone. Patricia had been standing right there in the hallway.
“She saw the digits,” I said, my voice dropping to a harsh whisper. “Or she watched me punch them in over my shoulder.”
Detective Miller didn't waste a second. He pulled out his radio, keying the mic to speak to the patrol unit stationed outside. “Unit four, this is Miller. I need an immediate welfare and search dispatch to 442 Elmwood Drive in suburban Kansas City. Suspects Patricia Parker and Courtney Parker are likely still at the residence. Secure the premises and check the home office safe for unauthorized document removal.”
“Copy that, Detective. En route now,” a crisp voice crackled back through the small speaker.
I looked at Hannah, my heart hammering against my ribs. If my mother had broken into our safe and stolen the original deed, she could theoretically attempt to execute a fraudulent transfer or leverage our home equity while we were trapped at the hospital.
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“Go, Ethan,” Hannah whispered, her hand reaching out to touch my arm with surprising strength. “Go home and make sure they haven't destroyed everything we worked for.”
“I’ll be right back,” I promised, kissing her forehead before turning and rushing out of the hospital room.
