An associated claim had also been submitted through a commercial filing process.
The filing did not prove the claimed rights were valid.
But it could complicate a prospective buyer's due diligence until the matter was addressed.
The attorney explained that a filing's existence and a legitimate enforceable interest were not the same thing.
The underlying agreement still mattered.
So did authenticity.
Authority.
And the actual history of the property.
Dileia listened carefully.
Then she asked whether Harlon could use the filing to take the roots.
The attorney answered cautiously.
“Not merely because his company says it has a claim. But we need to respond promptly and protect your position.”
She opened another folder.
“Now tell me about the tractor.”
Dileia described the cut hydraulic lines.
The forced shed lock.
The tire impressions.
And Harlon's repeated attempts to buy the farm.
The attorney wrote everything down.
“Did you preserve the damaged parts?”
“Yes.”
“Photographs?”
“Yes.”
“Police report?”
“Yes.”
“Any witnesses?”
Dileia hesitated.
“The retired mechanic saw the damage after I discovered it.”
The attorney nodded.
“And did you see Harlon enter the property?”
“No.”
She looked ashamed.
The attorney leaned forward.
“Then we don't state that as a fact.”
Dileia frowned.
“But I know he did it.”
The attorney shook her head gently.
“You suspect he was involved. There is a difference.”
For several seconds, Dileia remained silent.
Then she nodded.
Her father would have said the same thing.
Observe first. Conclude second.
They spent the rest of the afternoon organizing the evidence.
Loan records.
Farm ownership documents.
Research correspondence.
Harvest data.
The alleged agreement.
And the commercial proposal information provided by Helvetic.
By evening, the attorney had prepared notices challenging the disputed claim and requesting preservation of relevant records.
She also contacted the bank to discuss the approaching deadline.
The lender was willing to review a documented funding proposal.
But it would not suspend the default process indefinitely based on an uncertain future research deal.
Dileia understood.
Then the attorney asked whether she had any additional agreements from her father.
Dileia shook her head.
“Everything I found was in his workshop.”
The attorney studied the journal inventory.
“Are you sure that's everything?”
Dileia looked toward the handwritten list.
For a moment, she hesitated.
Then she remembered something.
Walter had once told her that the most important field records weren't in the main cabinet.
He didn't trust the old workshop roof during heavy winter storms.
He kept certain original notebooks in a waterproof container beneath the grain scale near the north barn.
Dileia had forgotten.
She sat upright.
“Wait.”