He picked up. "What did you find?"
"We reviewed Graham's activity."
"And?"
"He accessed your account information before Riverside contacted you."
Caleb closed his eyes. He already suspected, but hearing it confirmed changed something.
"How long before?"
"About 3 months."
3 months before the offer, before the negotiations, before Riverside suddenly appeared interested in his land.
Mary-Anne continued, "There is more." Caleb waited. "Graham was not just checking your account."
"What else?"
"He searched several agricultural accounts."
Caleb looked at Ruth's notebooks. "How many?"
"27."
The number caught his attention. "27?"
"Yes."
"Same area?"
"Yes."
Caleb slowly sat down. The names in Ruth's notebooks, the families she had investigated, the people she believed were being pressured. They matched.
Mary-Anne said quietly, "Caleb, I think your wife was looking into this before anyone else."
He looked at Ruth's handwriting. "She was."
"You knew?"
"I knew she was worried." A pause. "I did not know how far she had gone."
Maryanne became silent. Then she asked, "Did Ruth ever mention Riverside?"
Caleb looked at the notebook. "Yes."
"What did she say?"
"That they were not buying farms."
"What were they doing?"
Caleb turned the page. "They were buying time."
Maryanne did not understand. "What does that mean?"
Caleb read another note. "They pressure people until selling becomes the only option."
The words were written 3 years earlier, before Riverside approached him, before Graham knew his name, before anyone believed there was a connection.
Maryanne lowered her voice. "Caleb, we need to know who owns Riverside."
"I agree. I have already started looking."
"Good. But there is a problem."
"What?"
"The ownership structure is complicated."
"Meaning?"
"Multiple companies, holding companies, private investors."
Caleb looked at the fields outside. "They are hiding the person behind the money."
"Yes. Then we find the person."
Before Maryanne could answer, another call came through. Unknown number. Caleb almost ignored it. Then he answered.
"Hello?"
A woman's voice responded. "Mr. Monroe?"
"Yes."
"My name is Elena Price."
Caleb frowned. "I don't believe we know each other."
"No." Her voice was nervous. "But I knew your wife."
The kitchen became silent. "How?"
"I worked for Riverside Development."
Caleb straightened. "You worked for them?"
"Yes."
"What was your position?"
"Senior Accountant."
The answer immediately caught his attention. "And why are you calling me?"
A long pause followed, because whatever she was about to say was clearly difficult. "Because I should have called your wife before."
Caleb looked at Ruth's notebooks. "What happened?"
"I found documents."
"What kind of documents?"
"Documents showing Riverside was not randomly purchasing property," he waited. "They had a target list."
Caleb's expression changed. "Target list?"
"Yes."
"For what?"
"For families they believed would eventually sell."
The words felt heavier than expected. Caleb stood. "Why tell me now?"
"Because your name appeared on that list."