The original caption read:
FARMER DESTROYS HOA CHARITY CORN MAZE HOURS BEFORE OPENING.
Then somebody in the comments found county property records.
By breakfast, the caption had changed.
HOA SOLD 1,800 TICKETS TO A CORN MAZE ON LAND THEY DIDN’T OWN.
That version traveled faster.
At 8:10, a local television van parked on the shoulder.
I didn’t speak to them.
Rachel had given me one instruction.
Say less.
So I did.
At 8:40, Linda Price arrived.
No makeup.
Hair pulled into a loose ponytail.
Same
woman who had stood beside Trish the day before, but she looked ten years older.
“I need to talk to you.”
“Rachel’s coming.”
“Not with Rachel.”
“Then we’re not talking.”
She glanced toward the road.
“Please.”
I studied her.
She looked genuinely scared.
“About what?”
“The document.”
That got my attention.
“What about it?”
“I found it.”
“When?”
“Last winter.”
“Where?”
“In old association records.”
“Original?”
“No. Scan.”
“Who gave it to Trish?”
Linda hesitated.
“Linda.”
“She already had a copy.”
“From whom?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then what did you find?”
Her fingers tightened around her car keys.
“Emails.”
I said nothing.
“When Cedar Ridge was first built, the developer wanted a secondary road through your property.”
“I know.”
My father had rejected the proposal.
They offered seventy thousand dollars for an access easement.
Dad said no.
Then one hundred thousand.
Still no.
Eventually the subdivision built its main entrance
two miles east.
Linda nodded.
“The developer kept negotiating afterward.”
“With my father?”
“With someone.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know.”
“Trish?”
“She didn’t live here then.”
“What do the emails say?”
Linda glanced toward her Lexus.
“I printed them.”
“Where?”
“At home.”
“Bring them to Rachel.”
She grabbed my arm.
“Don’t tell Trish I came here.”
I looked down at her hand.
She released me.
“Why?”
“Because she removed me from the financial committee last night.”
“Why?”
“I questioned some transfers.”
“What transfers?”
Her lips pressed together.
Then she shook her head.
“I shouldn’t have come.”
She turned.
“Linda.”
She stopped.
“You came because you’re scared.”
No answer.
“Decide whether you’re more scared of Trish or what happens if you keep hiding things.”
