Thomas had highlighted one section in yellow.
Beside it, he had written:
They cannot build what they promised without crossing here.
I traced the road with my finger.
Then I looked through the remaining documents.
One letter, dated seven months before Thomas died, came from an environmental consulting firm.
It discussed wetlands, erosion risk, and a spring-fed creek that flowed through Hawthorne Ridge.
A second letter concerned the resort’s proposed artificial lake.
A third referenced a preliminary permit application in which Vale Development Group claimed it had secured the necessary access arrangements.
My stomach tightened.
Richard had apparently been telling investors he controlled a road that he did not own.
I called Eleanor.
“How can he do that?”
“He may claim there was an agreement in principle.”
“But Thomas never agreed.”
“That’s what our records indicate.”
“Then he’s lying.”
“Potentially.
We need the complete documents before reaching conclusions.”
