My 11-year-old pulled me behind a pillar at the mall—what we saw my mother-in-law doing made us hide, and by morning, two people had gone pale

and constantly talked about “off-market opportunities.”

Claire explained that Victor arranged fast property sales when owners were desperate, divorcing, or overwhelmed by debt. Sometimes, she said, he lined up buyers before homeowners even realized a transaction was being prepared behind them.

A cold pressure settled in my chest.

“What deal?” I asked.continue reading …