“Technically, I don't own the dirt.”
The President glared.
“Commercial limestone and dolomite.”
The inspector looked at the foundation.
“And ingress and egress.”
The Homeowner nodded.
“Yes.”
The President snatched at the document.
“What exactly does that mean?”
The inspector moved it out of reach.
“It means title may be subject to a severed mineral estate with access rights.”
“May?”
“Yes.”
“So nothing has been established.”
The Homeowner smiled.
“Check the recorder.”
The inspector already was.
He opened a title database on his tablet.
Entered the reference.
Waited.
His face became pale.
The President saw.
“What?”
He turned the screen.
Recorded mineral estate.
Active.
No release.
No merger.
No extinguishment.
The Homeowner’s family trust was listed.
The inspector looked toward the fresh concrete.
“Did the title commitment disclose this?”
The President's eyes flicked.
“Ask our attorney.”
“That isn't an answer.”
She raised her voice.
“You are here to inspect construction.”
“I’m here on behalf of the lender.”
“Then inspect it.”
He looked toward the concrete.
“I am.”
His phone rang.
He stepped away.
The President turned toward the Homeowner.
“You knew.”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Long enough.”
“And you let us pour.”
“You told me I had no rights.”
“You could have stopped construction.”
“I asked you to review title four times.”
“That is not the same as producing this.”
“No.”
“It was your responsibility to disclose.”
The Homeowner's expression hardened.
“No.”
“It was your responsibility to know what you bought.”
Her face reddened.
“You deliberately waited.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
He looked toward the foundation.
“Because every time I questioned your authority, you treated the question like disobedience.”
She opened her mouth.
He continued.
“I stopped asking permission.”
The bank inspector returned.
Phone still in hand.
His expression had become formal.
That was worse than panic.
“Stop all work.”
The Site Manager looked over.
“What?”
“Stop.”
The President stepped toward him.
“Why?”
The inspector closed his clipboard.
“The lender has placed the construction facility on immediate hold pending title review.”
Her face emptied.
“What does that mean?”
“No further draws.”
“For how long?”
“I don't know.”
“We have contractors.”
“I understand.”
“We have payroll.”
“I understand.”
“Equipment rentals.”
“Yes.”
The President looked toward the Homeowner.
“This is your doing.”
He shook his head.
“You poured the concrete.”