“What about the will my mother signed?”
“I have it.
Filed four months after the deed transfer.
It leaves the property and all associated assets to Derek outright, with a small monthly allowance designated for Manuel and Carmen.” Inez let that sit for a moment.
“The allowance is three hundred dollars a month, Alvin.”
He pressed two fingers against his forehead.
Three hundred dollars.
His parents had lived in that house for thirty-eight years, and Derek had reduced their share of it to three hundred dollars a month.
“Can we challenge the will?”
“Absolutely.
Carmen’s signature on that will is the weak point.
If she didn’t understand what she was signing — and from what you’re telling me, she didn’t — we have a strong undue influence argument.
We’ll need a medical evaluation and a witness statement from her.” Inez’s voice sharpened.
“But the deed is the more urgent problem.
If that transfer was fraudulent, we need to move before Derek does anything else with the property.”
“Like what?”
“Like borrowing against it.
Or selling it.”
Alvin’s jaw tightened.
“Can he do that?”
“He’s the sole member of the LLC right now.
Legally, yes.”
“How long do we have?”
“I don’t know.
I’m pulling property lien records this morning.
If he’s already approached a lender, there may be a record.” A keyboard clicked in the background.
“Alvin, I need you to get me those original documents your father copied.
Today if possible.”
“I’m going to the bank when it opens.”
“Good.
One more thing.” She hesitated — and Inez never hesitated.
“I ran Derek’s financials as far as I could without a subpoena.
He has significant debt.
Credit cards, a personal loan taken out eleven months ago, and what looks like a failed business venture in Atlanta that he closed quietly last year.”
Alvin turned away from the window.
“He needed money.”
“He needed a lot of it.
And your parents’ house, in the right market, would solve that problem entirely.”
The line was quiet for a moment.
“Get me those documents,” Inez said.
“And Alvin — don’t let him know you’re here yet.
Once he finds out, the clock starts.”
Alvin ended the call and set the phone face-down on the dresser.
He picked up the rusted key from the nightstand and tilted it toward the window light.
