The waiver stated that she had been informed of the proceedings and declined to contest the disposition of the property.
Evelyn stared at it.
“I never signed this.”
Whitcomb looked toward her.
“Are you certain?”
She raised her eyes.
“Mr. Whitcomb, I spent those months in Cheyenne trying to understand what had happened to Father. If someone had given me a document surrendering Willow Creek, I would remember it.”
He nodded.
Caleb leaned forward.
“That's not her signature.”
Evelyn turned toward him.
He pointed toward the final letter of her surname.
“She always joins those two letters. Whoever wrote this didn't.”
The lawyer examined the paper.
The difference wasn't enough, by itself, to establish forgery. But combined with Evelyn's account, the payment records, and the questionable notices, it provided another reason to investigate the legitimacy of Victor's claim.
Whitcomb looked up.
“We now have grounds to seek immediate judicial protection while these questions are examined.”
Evelyn swallowed.
“Can we stop him from selling?”
“We can apply for an injunction. Whether the court grants it will depend upon the evidence and the arguments presented.”
She nodded.
Then asked, “And if he sells before the hearing?”
Whitcomb's expression became grave.
“That's why we must act promptly.”
They worked through the evening.
Evelyn provided examples of her authentic signature, letters showing where she lived during the supposed service period, and copies of her father's original accounting records. Samuel Pike agreed to provide a sworn statement, and Caleb prepared an account of Henry's final instructions and the location of the hidden documents.
Whitcomb also retained a colleague experienced with contested land titles. Together they prepared the filings needed to challenge the asserted foreclosure and seek temporary relief against any transfer that might complicate the dispute.
Evelyn understood that recovering Willow Creek could require months of litigation.
Possibly years.
She also understood that an old receipt and a good argument weren't a substitute for a court's decision.
But for the first time, she was no longer simply asking Victor to explain himself.
She was demanding that he do so before an independent authority.
The change seemed to reach Victor almost immediately.
Two days after Whitcomb filed the initial papers, Victor summoned Caleb to the main house.