Mark secured the leather pouch inside his strong belt and climbed back up quickly.
He pulled himself over the stone rim and landed solidly on the green grass.
Water dripped from his wet clothes onto the neat lawn surrounding the old well.
Evelyn stumbled back several paces, her face pale with total disbelief and horror.
Evelyn: How did you pull that out so quickly from the water?
Mark: Father made sure this pouch was completely waterproof thirty years ago.
Mark unzipped the heavy seal and pulled out the crisp white paper document.
The official red wax seal of his father's estate remained entirely undamaged and dry.
Evelyn rushed forward with her hands clawing wildly toward the precious paper document.
Evelyn: Give that back to me right now, you arrogant foolish boy!
Mark stepped aside quickly, blocking her attempt with a firm outstretched arm.
Mark: Do not touch this document again, Evelyn!
Evelyn stumbled slightly on the soft grass before turning around to glare again.
Evelyn: That paper is a fake that your father wrote under pressure!
Mark: This document was witnessed and signed in front of a court judge.
Mark opened the first page and read the bold black heading out loud.
The words clearly detailed the transfer of the family home into a trust.
Evelyn began to tremble as the weight of her failed plan crushed her.
Evelyn: You are destroying this family by dragging this into the public!
Mark: You destroyed this family the moment you tried to steal our inheritance.
The sound of approaching tires echoed from the long driveway behind the house.
Two law enforcement vehicles pulled up onto the grass near the formal garden.
The local police chief stepped out of his vehicle and walked toward them.
Mark: I called Chief Davis before I drove over to this house today.