Voss continued.
“For four months, the state has been reviewing irregular property transfers in Maple Hollow.”
The pieces shifted.
Not connected yet.
But closer.
“How many?”
“Enough.”
“Define enough.”
“Thirty-one parcels with boundary revisions or ownership changes that don’t reconcile cleanly with prior records.”
“Who benefits?”
Voss looked toward Erica again.
“Several entities.”
“Names.”
“Not yet.”
Michael leaned forward.
“My sister is dead.”
“And if I give you unverified names, I could damage an investigation that might explain what she found.”
Michael wanted to argue.
Then stopped.
He understood process.
Had spent thirty years machining aircraft components where half a thousandth of an inch mattered.
Precision mattered most when emotion demanded speed.
He sat back.
“Fine.”
Voss nodded.
“Ruth leave papers?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
Michael did not answer immediately.
The cardboard box.
COUNTY.
At Ruth’s house.
On the floor beside her old oak desk.
Michael had found it three days earlier.
He had not opened it because the estate required a hundred other decisions.
He remembered the note taped inside the lid.
If anything happens before I explain this, don’t throw away the county box.
His stomach dropped.
Voss watched his face.
“Michael?”
He whispered:
“There’s a box.”
“What kind?”
“Cardboard.”
“At Ruth’s?”
“Yes.”
“What’s in it?”
“I don’t know.”
Voss’s posture changed.
“Where exactly?”
“In her study.”
“Anyone else know?”
“My son knows I’m sorting papers.”
“Does he know the box?”
“No.”
“Sheriff?”
“I never mentioned it.”
Voss stood.
“Don’t call anyone.”
Michael frowned.
“Why?”
“Because if Ruth was being followed, we do not know who knew what she collected.”
Michael stood too.
“I’m going.”
“No.”
“That is my sister’s house.”
“And potentially evidence.”
“It’s still my responsibility.”
Voss stared.
Michael stared back.
Voss sighed.
“You ride with me.”
“Fine.”
“And you do not touch the box.”
“Fine.”
“Anything else unusual at the house?”
Michael thought.
Then:
“The back door.”
“What?”
“Lock looked scratched when I arrived last week.”
“Did you report it?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“I assumed Ruth had done it.”
Voss rubbed his forehead.
“Of course you did.”
Michael frowned.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
They left Hazel’s thirty minutes later.
Erica Mullen remained behind.
Not arrested.
Not yet.
State investigators had authority to secure evidence and investigate the assault.
They did not yet have grounds for broader detention.
Michael understood that logically.
Emotionally, he hated watching her remain standing.