“Immaterial now. How did you get the combination? Did John give it to one of his relatives? You don’t need the hocus-pocus with me.” As if she hadn’t just performed a miracle, Jax returned to searching the desk. He pulled out the drawers, checked the undersides, and inspected them and the interior, presumably for more hiding places.
“Why on earth would I bother with hocus pocus if I had the combination? That’s stupid. I’m not stupid, and I’m damned tired of people thinking I am. Where did the liquor go?” Dying to tear into the envelope, Evie turned her always divided attention to the open, empty, liquor cabinet.
“I took the liquor home and credited the value against my bill. The estate sale people can’t sell liquor without a license.” He slammed a drawer back into the desk.
“Short-sighted of you. One never knows when alcohol will come in handy in a haunted house.” Evie smiled at her worried ward as Loretta ran back with rubber gloves. “We’ll go upstairs next and gather your books and things.”
Loretta plopped down beside her and waited expectantly.
Jax pulled the gloves on over his big hands and unfastened the envelope closure. Several folded, yellowed documents tumbled out.
“My mother saw old deeds,” Evie murmured as Jax delicately flattened one document with his gloved hand.
He made no comment on her mother’s vision. She peered over his shoulder. Even she could tell the first bundle he opened was a deed. “Is it legal?”
“They’re notarized. An exact copy should have been filed with the deed registrar.” Jax opened the next. A similar document unfolded.
“Does Loretta own even more property than you knew about?”
“Same properties, if I’m remembering the descriptions correctly. But I think this one...” He got out his phone and began scrolling through photos. He held up one for her to see. “This is the county’s deed register. Compare the photo with what’s on this deed.”
Taking a deep breath, Evie gathered her concentration and brought both photo and paper into focus. It didn’t take a minute to see the difference. “I’m not a surveyor. I don’t know what the lot line description means. But the amount of acreage on the deed I’m holding is considerably less than in the book photo.”
“And the register number in the book is a lot older, which means the older, larger lot in the deed book may have been divided or sold. It looks like this deed is newer and represents only a part of the original lot. The book should have a cross-reference number to any newer deeds like this one. I don’t know why it’s not there.”
Jax took a picture of the description, then punched a number on his phone. “Rube, I’m sending you an image. Tell me if you find the deed number anywhere in the registrar’s office.”
He clicked off and began scrolling through his phone again. “They may be different parcels entirely, even if the location is similar.”
Evie had never seen a deed before but, knowing her family, understanding began to sink in. It didn’t make good sense just yet. Still, if the smaller plot represented by this yellowing deed was registeredafterthe larger one in the book... “If these are the deeds John Post inherited from Great-Grandmother Letitia... Is it possible she and Great-Aunt Val and their siblings divided the family plot when Letitia married a Post? That could explain the animosity between my family and the Posts.”
Loretta looked puzzled and ready to cry. “Does this mean I don’t own the town?”
“You never owned the town, kid.” Evie knuckled the top of her head. “Malcolmsown the town. The Posts wanted to but didn’t get it all. Or maybe they bought it later, and we haven’t uncovered that part yet. But it means nothing to us. Let’s go pack your books.”
“I can still live with you?” Loretta asked anxiously, glancing at the ancient documents as she stood up.
“You don’t have to ownanythingand you can still live with me. You’re family. Now show me a birth certificate proving you’re the daughter of a politician, and I’ll give you back to Jax.” Evie stood up and followed Loretta to the door, casting a glance over her shoulder at Jax.
He wasn’t listening. He was carefully photographing every page of each document. She didn’t know what that meant. She didn’t know if she should take possession of those papers—or if she could. She wasn’t stupid, but she had a lot to learn, it seemed. But she suspected he was holding her family’s future and Loretta’s in his hands right now. How far could she trust him?
She hesitated and opened her inner eye. His aura was wider. The angry red had deepened to the red of strong willpower. And oddly, a touch of gold shimmered above his root chakra. His higher self was connecting to his confidence? She’d have to think about that.
They found boxes in the attic and had packed up most of Loretta’s outstanding collection of comics, books, and video games when a dramatic mezzo-soprano rose from the downstairs hall.
“Evangeline?”
“Supercalifragilistic,” Evie muttered. She’d known this confrontation had to come. She just wasn’t ready. “Do you have an emergency ladder in here?”
Loretta looked at her questioningly. “Like a rope? No. Should I have one?”
“Only if you want to escape dragons, especially ones who believe in a scorched earth policy. You may be okay, but we should probably rescue Jax.” In resignation, knowing she had to have this conversation, Evie lifted a box of comic books and started for the stairs.
Like a good minion, Loretta carried a box of stuffed toys and followed.
“Who is this man?” Great-Aunt Val demanded imperiously as Evie appeared in the foyer. “And why is he interfering in family affairs?”
“He’s my lawyer,” Loretta piped helpfully.