Chapter 17 - The Families Who Sold
Priya arranged a private meeting at the town library.
Nine former property owners attended.
At first, they were reluctant to speak.
Then Nora placed Meridian’s threatening letter on the table.
An elderly man named Walter Reed removed an identical letter from his coat.
A woman named Jessica had received one after her husband left her. Meridian claimed an underground pipeline crossed her garden. She sold the property for half its market value because she could not afford an attorney.
Another family had been told their home contained structural contamination. After they moved, Meridian demolished the house and resold the land without performing any cleanup.
Every letter contained slightly different accusations.
Every letter led to the same result.
Fear.
Isolation.
A rushed sale.
Evelyn recorded each person’s account with their permission. Priya collected copies of contracts, bank records, emails, and inspection reports.
Walter remained after the others left.
“Your husband visited me last year,” he told Nora.
“Ethan visited you?”
“He said he believed Meridian had falsified the survey used to take my land.”
“Why didn’t you tell anyone?”
“I was ashamed. I thought I had been foolish.”
“You were deceived.”
Walter nodded slowly.
Before leaving, he handed Nora an old photograph.
It showed Ethan standing beside Walter’s barn. In his hand was a red survey notebook.
“He gave me this photograph and said I would understand later,” Walter said.
Nora examined the background.
Through the barn window, someone was watching Ethan.
Mason.
On the back of the photograph, Ethan had written a date and a set of coordinates.
Priya entered the coordinates into her phone.
They pointed to a location beneath Meridian Crown’s new corporate headquarters.
May you like
Evelyn looked at Nora.
“Whatever Ethan found, Meridian built its headquarters directly over it.”
