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00:00:00What would you do if you had just $900 to your name, your last safety net in a world that's already taken almost everything from you?
00:00:07Would you spend it all on an abandoned house that nobody wanted?
00:00:10That's exactly what one desperate mother did.
00:00:13But what she discovered inside those crumbling walls wasn't just dust and decay.
00:00:17It was a secret worth billions of dollars and dangerous enough to get someone killed.
00:00:22Before we dive into the story, let us know where you're watching from.
00:00:26Maya Coleman was 34 years old, a former nurse whose life had been spiraling downward for six months.
00:00:32The rural hospital where she'd worked for eight years had suddenly closed,
00:00:36leaving her without the steady income she relied on to support herself and her 12-year-old son, Ethan.
00:00:42Ethan wasn't just any child.
00:00:43He suffered from severe asthma that required expensive medications and careful environmental control,
00:00:49something Maya could barely afford even when she had her nursing job.
00:00:52Now she was working two minimum wage positions, morning shifts at a local coffee shop and evening work at a convenience store.
00:00:59She was barely seeing her son, barely sleeping, and barely keeping their heads above water.
00:01:04Then came the final blow.
00:01:06Their landlord had decided to sell the building, giving Maya just 30 days to find a new place to live.
00:01:11In a rental market with soaring prices, there was nothing even remotely in her budget.
00:01:16Nothing.
00:01:17All she had left was $900 saved in an emergency fund,
00:01:20money she'd been putting aside dollar by dollar for almost a year.
00:01:24It was their last financial safety net, and she knew that once it was gone,
00:01:27there would be nothing between them and complete disaster.
00:01:30That's when Maya remembered something her grandmother used to say.
00:01:33Sometimes you have to risk everything to save everything, and that's exactly what she was about to do.
00:01:40One sleepless night, as Maya scrolled through unaffordable rental listings on her phone, an ad caught her attention.
00:01:46The county was holding an auction for tax-delinquent properties.
00:01:49She'd never considered buying a house, not with her credit score and financial situation,
00:01:54but curiosity made her tap the link.
00:01:56Most properties started at tens of thousands of dollars, way beyond her reach.
00:02:00But then she saw it, an old farmhouse on three acres of land, with a starting bid of just $750.
00:02:07The listing was brief.
00:02:08Abandoned farmhouse, approximately 1,800 square feet, significant structural issues, sold as is,
00:02:16no utilities connected, property vacant for 15 plus years.
00:02:20The photograph showed a two-story white farmhouse with peeling paint, broken windows, and an overgrown yard.
00:02:26It looked like something from a horror movie, but it was a house, with land,
00:02:30and the starting bid was less than her month's rent.
00:02:32Maya's best friend Tasha thought she'd lost her mind.
00:02:35Maya, honey, there's a reason it's so cheap, Tasha said over coffee the next morning.
00:02:39That place probably has a collapsing foundation or black mold or both.
00:02:44What about Ethan's asthma?
00:02:45And where would you even get the money to fix it up?
00:02:47I don't know, Maya admitted, but I do know that in 29 days we'll have nowhere to live.
00:02:52No one will rent to me with my credit score.
00:02:55And this, this could be something that's actually ours, something no one can take away.
00:03:00On the morning of the auction, Maya called in sick to her coffee shop job.
00:03:03She put on her nicest outfit, a blue coat she'd bought years ago for job interviews,
00:03:08and tucked the envelope with $900 in cash inside her purse.
00:03:12Her hands trembled as she dropped Ethan off at school.
00:03:15Wish me luck, baby, she said, kissing the top of his head.
00:03:18For what, he asked, confused.
00:03:20I'll tell you later, she promised.
00:03:22Maybe I'll have good news.
00:03:24The county courthouse was intimidating.
00:03:26Its marble halls filled with people who looked like they belonged there,
00:03:29professional property developers and house flippers with tailored suits and confident expressions.
00:03:34Maya clutched her purse tighter, feeling completely out of place in her secondhand clothes.
00:03:39The auction room was set up with rows of chairs facing a podium.
00:03:42Maya took a seat in the back, trying to be invisible.
00:03:45She watched carefully as the first properties were auctioned, learning the process.
00:03:49The auctioneer would announce the property bidding would start
00:03:51and within minutes it would be sold to the highest bidder.
00:03:54Most properties went for much higher than their starting bids.
00:03:57Maya's hope began to fade.
00:03:59Even if the farmhouse started at $750, it would probably end up selling for thousands more.
00:04:05Finally, the auctioneer announced,
00:04:06Next up, property ID number 45,872.
00:04:11Abandoned farmhouse on 3.2 acres at 1,428 Old Mill Road.
00:04:17Property has been vacant approximately 15 years,
00:04:20has significant structural issues,
00:04:22no utilities currently connected,
00:04:24and is sold as is.
00:04:25Starting bid $750.
00:04:28Maya held her breath.
00:04:29There was a long pause.
00:04:31The room seemed uninterested.
00:04:32Do I have $750?
00:04:34The auctioneer asked again.
00:04:36Maya's hand shook as she raised it slightly.
00:04:38$750 from the lady in the back.
00:04:41Do I have $800?
00:04:42A man in the corner, barely paying attention while looking at his phone, raised his hand.
00:04:47$800 from Mr. Reynolds.
00:04:49Do I have $850?
00:04:51Maya raised her hand again.
00:04:52$850 from the lady in blue.
00:04:55Do I have $900?
00:04:57The man in the corner glanced up from his phone and casually raised his finger.
00:05:00$900 from Mr. Reynolds.
00:05:03Do I have $950?
00:05:05This was it.
00:05:06Maya had only $900.
00:05:08She couldn't go higher.
00:05:10She had to make a choice.
00:05:11Use every penny she had, or walk away.
00:05:13Maya raised her hand.
00:05:15$900, she said.
00:05:17The auctioneer looked confused.
00:05:18The current bid is $900, ma'am.
00:05:21Are you offering $950?
00:05:23No, she said louder this time.
00:05:25I'm offering $900, the same as him.
00:05:28She pointed to the man in the corner.
00:05:30The auctioneer looked between them.
00:05:32I'm afraid that's not how it works.
00:05:34The bid is already at $900.
00:05:36I need $950 or higher.
00:05:39The man in the corner had gone back to his phone, clearly uninterested.
00:05:42Please, Maya said, her voice catching.
00:05:44I only have $900.
00:05:46An awkward silence fell over the room.
00:05:48The auctioneer cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable.
00:05:51He glanced at the man with the current bid, who wasn't even paying attention anymore.
00:05:56Mr. Reynolds, do you wish to maintain your bid of $900 for the property?
00:06:00The man looked up, assessed Maya for a moment, then shrugged.
00:06:04Nah, I'm out.
00:06:05Too much work for that old place.
00:06:07She can have it.
00:06:08Relief flooded through Maya.
00:06:09Was this really happening?
00:06:10Going once at $900 to the lady in blue.
00:06:13Going twice at $900.
00:06:15Sold.
00:06:16Property ID 45872 for $900.
00:06:21Maya sat in shock as the room moved on to the next property.
00:06:24She had just bought a house for $900.
00:06:27Every penny she had in the world.
00:06:29At the clerk's office, she handed over her cash with trembling fingers and received a
00:06:33folder of paperwork and a single key in return.
00:06:36That's the Mercer place, isn't it?
00:06:38The clerk asked.
00:06:39An older woman with kind eyes.
00:06:40I don't know, Maya admitted.
00:06:42The address is 1428 Old Mill Road.
00:06:46Yep, that's the Mercer house, the clerk confirmed, giving Maya an odd look.
00:06:51Not many people around here would touch that place.
00:06:54It's got quite a history.
00:06:55What kind of history?
00:06:56Maya asked, suddenly concerned.
00:06:58The clerk seemed to catch herself.
00:07:00Oh, just old stories.
00:07:02Nothing to worry about.
00:07:03It's been empty a long time, that's all.
00:07:05As Maya left the courthouse, key in hand, she felt a strange mixture of elation and terror.
00:07:10She had just spent every penny she had on a house she had never even seen up close.
00:07:14A house with quite a history, whatever that meant.
00:07:17She sat in her old car for a long moment, then pulled out her phone and called Ethan's school.
00:07:22This is Maya Coleman.
00:07:24I need to pick up my son early today.
00:07:26A pause.
00:07:26Yes, it's a family emergency.
00:07:29A good one, actually.
00:07:30Twenty minutes later, Ethan climbed into the passenger seat, his face worried.
00:07:35Mom?
00:07:35What's going on?
00:07:36Are you okay?
00:07:37Maya turned to him, hardly believing what she was about to say.
00:07:41Ethan, we have a home.
00:07:42A real home that belongs to us.
00:07:44No one can ever make us leave again.
00:07:46His eyes widened.
00:07:47You bought a house?
00:07:48How?
00:07:49With what money?
00:07:50With all our money, she admitted.
00:07:52I took a huge chance.
00:07:53Do you want to see it?
00:07:54Ethan nodded, excitement building on his face.
00:07:57Maya hadn't seen him look this happy in months.
00:08:00As they drove through the countryside, Maya tried to prepare him.
00:08:03It needs a lot of work, honey.
00:08:05It's been empty for years.
00:08:06But it's on three acres of land, and it's all ours.
00:08:09Does it have a yard?
00:08:11Can we get a dog now?
00:08:12Ethan asked, his mind racing with possibilities.
00:08:15It has more than a yard.
00:08:17It has land.
00:08:18And maybe someday, we can get a dog.
00:08:20But first, we need to make it livable.
00:08:22The GPS directed them down increasingly rural roads until they turned onto a long, overgrown
00:08:27driveway nearly hidden from the main road.
00:08:30As they rounded a bend, the house came into view.
00:08:33Maya's heart sank.
00:08:34It looked even worse than in the photos.
00:08:36The white paint had peeled away to reveal graying wood underneath.
00:08:39Several windows were broken or boarded up.
00:08:42The front porch sagged dangerously on one side.
00:08:44The yard was completely overgrown with weeds and brush that reached nearly to the first
00:08:48floor windows in some places.
00:08:50She glanced at Ethan, whose excited expression had morphed into shock.
00:08:54Mom, we're going to live here?
00:08:55His voice was small.
00:08:57Maya forced a smile.
00:08:58It needs work.
00:08:59But it's ours.
00:09:00No rent.
00:09:01No landlord.
00:09:02Just us.
00:09:03They sat in the car for a long moment, staring at their new home.
00:09:06Finally, Maya took a deep breath.
00:09:08Let's check out the inside.
00:09:10The front door creaked ominously as Maya turned the key.
00:09:13It stuck at first, then suddenly gave way.
00:09:15The musty smell of abandonment hit them immediately.
00:09:18Dust, mold, and the faint odor of animals that had made the house their home over the
00:09:23years.
00:09:24They stepped cautiously into a large front room.
00:09:26Without electricity, the only light came from the dirty windows and the open door behind
00:09:31them.
00:09:32Maya used the flashlight on her phone to look around.
00:09:34The interior was a mess of fallen plaster, animal droppings and debris.
00:09:39Water stains marked the ceiling where the roof had leaked.
00:09:42Old furniture covered in dust remained in some rooms.
00:09:44A sagging couch, a wooden rocking chair, bookshelves with a few moldy books still in
00:09:49place.
00:09:50They moved carefully from room to room on the first floor.
00:09:53A large living room, a dining room, a kitchen with ancient appliances, and a small bathroom
00:09:59with a clawfoot tub.
00:10:01Despite the mess, Maya could see that the house had once been beautiful, with hardwoods
00:10:05underneath the grime and detailed woodwork around the doorways.
00:10:08Can we go upstairs?
00:10:10Ethan asked, his voice echoing in the empty house.
00:10:13Let me check if it's safe first, Maya said, placing her foot tentatively on the first
00:10:17step.
00:10:18The stairs creaked but felt solid enough.
00:10:20Upstairs they found four bedrooms and another bathroom.
00:10:23In one room, faded flower wallpaper peeled from the walls.
00:10:27In another, what looked like a child's drawings could still be seen on one wall.
00:10:32Ethan had been quiet throughout their exploration, but suddenly he began to cough, deep, wheezing
00:10:37coughs that Maya recognized immediately as an asthma attack triggered by the dust and
00:10:42mold.
00:10:43We need to get out of here, she said urgently, guiding him back toward the stairs.
00:10:46We need to get you to fresh air.
00:10:48Outside she retrieved his inhaler from the car, and gradually his breathing returned
00:10:52to normal.
00:10:53Maya surveyed the property with a sinking feeling.
00:10:56What had she done?
00:10:57How could they possibly live here, especially with Ethan's asthma?
00:11:00As the sun began to set, reality set in.
00:11:03They couldn't stay in the house tonight, it wasn't safe or healthy.
00:11:06But they had nowhere else to go, and no money for a hotel.
00:11:09We'll sleep in the car tonight, Maya decided.
00:11:12Tomorrow we'll figure things out.
00:11:13They reclined the seats as far as they would go, and used the emergency blanket Maya kept
00:11:18in the trunk.
00:11:19As Ethan drifted off to sleep, Maya stared out the window at the dark silhouette of their
00:11:23house.
00:11:24Tears slid silently down her cheeks.
00:11:26Had she made a terrible mistake?
00:11:28Had she risked everything, only to end up homeless anyway?
00:11:32In the morning, they were awakened by the sound of a vehicle coming up the driveway.
00:11:36An old pickup truck parked beside them, and an elderly woman with silver hair emerged,
00:11:40carrying a basket.
00:11:41Maya got out of the car cautiously.
00:11:43Good morning, the woman called.
00:11:45I thought I saw lights up here last night.
00:11:47I'm Iris Barnes.
00:11:49I live down the road.
00:11:50She held out the basket, brought you some breakfast, figured you might need it.
00:11:54Maya accepted the basket, which contained still warm muffins, a thermos of coffee, and
00:11:59a bottle of orange juice.
00:12:02I'm Maya Coleman, and this is my son Ethan.
00:12:04We uh, we just bought this place.
00:12:06Iris raised her eyebrows.
00:12:08Did you now?
00:12:09You're the first person brave enough to step foot in there since Josephine Mercer disappeared.
00:12:14Disappeared?
00:12:15Maya repeated.
00:12:16Iris nodded.
00:12:17Back in 89, Josephine just vanished one day.
00:12:20Some say she just up and left, but she wasn't the type.
00:12:23Left everything behind.
00:12:24Clothes, car, personal items.
00:12:27Police investigated but never found a trace.
00:12:29She lowered her voice.
00:12:30That's why folks around here say the place is cursed.
00:12:33Been sitting empty ever since.
00:12:35Ethan, now standing beside Maya, asked, do you think it's really cursed?
00:12:39Iris smiled at him.
00:12:40I don't believe in curses, young man.
00:12:43But I do believe some houses hold onto memories.
00:12:45Josephine was a good woman.
00:12:47Helped a lot of people around here with her remedies when they couldn't afford doctors.
00:12:51Remedies?
00:12:52Maya asked.
00:12:53She was an herbalist.
00:12:54Grew all sorts of medicinal plants on this property.
00:12:57People came from miles around when they needed healing.
00:12:59Iris looked at the overgrown yard thoughtfully.
00:13:02Somewhere under all that wild growth, her gardens are probably still there.
00:13:06As they spoke, another vehicle approached.
00:13:08A different pickup truck.
00:13:09This one, newer.
00:13:10A middle-aged man with graying hair and a teenage girl who looked about Ethan's age
00:13:15stepped out.
00:13:16Morning, Iris, the man called.
00:13:18Thought you might be up here.
00:13:19He turned to Maya.
00:13:20Sam Reynolds.
00:13:21This is my daughter Lily.
00:13:23Maya recognized the name.
00:13:24Reynolds.
00:13:25Were you at the auction yesterday?
00:13:27Sam nodded.
00:13:28That was me.
00:13:29I flip houses sometimes.
00:13:30But when I saw you were so determined to get this one, he shrugged.
00:13:33Seemed like you needed it more than I did.
00:13:36Maya felt a rush of gratitude.
00:13:38I don't know what to say.
00:13:39Don't thank me yet.
00:13:40Sam replied with a wry smile.
00:13:42This place is a monster.
00:13:44Brought some tools to help you assess what you're dealing with.
00:13:46Maya hesitated.
00:13:47I can't pay anyone to help.
00:13:49I spent every cent I had on buying the house.
00:13:51Did I ask to be paid?
00:13:53Sam said gruffly.
00:13:54It's just being neighborly.
00:13:56Besides, no one should have to tackle the Mercer place alone.
00:13:59For the first time since the auction, Maya felt a glimmer of hope.
00:14:03Maybe they weren't completely alone in this after all.
00:14:05Over the next few days, Maya discovered just how enormous the task of making the house
00:14:09livable would be.
00:14:11Sam, a contractor by trade, gave her the unvarnished truth after inspecting the property.
00:14:16The good news is the foundation is solid.
00:14:19Original stone from the 1800s, built to last.
00:14:22The bad news is pretty much everything else, he explained as they stood in what would eventually
00:14:27be the kitchen.
00:14:28The roof needs complete replacement.
00:14:29The electrical wiring is ancient and dangerous.
00:14:32Plumbing's shot, and there's enough mold in here to make anyone sick, let alone a kid
00:14:36with asthma.
00:14:37Maya's heart sank.
00:14:38How much would it cost to fix all that?
00:14:41Sam hesitated.
00:14:42Minimum?
00:14:43$30,000.
00:14:44And that's with me doing the work at cost, and you helping.
00:14:46The number hit Maya like a physical blow.
00:14:49$30,000 might as well have been $30 million.
00:14:51With her credit score, no bank would loan her anything.
00:14:54I don't have that kind of money, she admitted.
00:14:57I don't even have enough for a hotel tonight.
00:14:59Sam scratched his beard thoughtfully.
00:15:01I've got a camping trailer you can use for now.
00:15:03It's not fancy, but it's clean, and it's got working plumbing.
00:15:07We can park it on the property.
00:15:09Maya swallowed her pride.
00:15:10We'll pay you back, somehow.
00:15:12We'll figure it out, was all Sam said.
00:15:14Meanwhile, Ethan and Lily had been exploring the overgrown property, keeping a safe distance
00:15:19from the house itself.
00:15:20They discovered the remains of what must have been a large garden, now wild and overgrown,
00:15:25and an old well with a stone surround.
00:15:27Mom!
00:15:28Ethan called excitedly as he ran back to the house.
00:15:30There's apple trees back there, tons of them, and Lily says some of the plants growing everywhere
00:15:35are herbs, not just weeds.
00:15:37Lily, who had followed at a more sedate pace, nodded.
00:15:40My grandma taught me about herbs.
00:15:42There's lavender, thyme, mint, and some others I don't recognize growing all over
00:15:47back there.
00:15:48They've gone wild, but they're definitely planted, not random.
00:15:51Maya remembered what Iris had said about Josephine Mercer being an herbalist.
00:15:55Somehow, knowing that the previous owner had been a healer like herself, a nurse, created
00:16:00a strange connection across time.
00:16:02That evening, as Maya and Ethan settled into the borrowed trailer, she tried to maintain
00:16:07a positive attitude for her son's sake.
00:16:09It's like camping, right?
00:16:10An adventure.
00:16:11Ethan was quiet for a moment, then asked, Why did you buy this place, Mom?
00:16:16Really?
00:16:17Maya considered how to answer.
00:16:18Because I was desperate, she finally admitted.
00:16:21Because I was about to lose everything and sometimes when you're at the very bottom
00:16:24you have to take a crazy chance.
00:16:26She looked at him seriously.
00:16:27I'm sorry if I made the wrong choice.
00:16:29You didn't, Ethan said with surprising conviction.
00:16:32This place feels, I don't know, important somehow.
00:16:36Like we're supposed to be here.
00:16:37That night, after Ethan was asleep, Maya sat outside the trailer on a folding chair, staring
00:16:42at the dark silhouette of the house.
00:16:44The nearly full moon cast enough light to see the outline of the building against the
00:16:48night sky.
00:16:49As she watched, she could have sworn she saw a faint light move past one of the upstairs
00:16:53windows, as if someone carrying a candle had walked by.
00:16:57But that was impossible.
00:16:58There was no electricity, and no one else was there.
00:17:01Maya rubbed her eyes.
00:17:02She was exhausted, and her mind was playing tricks on her.
00:17:05Yet, as she stared at the window, she couldn't shake the feeling that someone was looking
00:17:09back.
00:17:10The following days established a routine.
00:17:12Maya would work her morning shift at the coffee shop, then spend the afternoon trying to clean
00:17:16the house enough to make it minimally habitable.
00:17:19Ethan would go to school, then join her afterward, wearing a dust mask to protect his lungs.
00:17:24Sam dropped by most days after his own work was done, tackling the most dangerous structural
00:17:28issues.
00:17:29He refused payment, saying only, you can pay me back when you're on your feet.
00:17:33Iris brought food and stories about Josephine Mercer, painting a picture of a brilliant,
00:17:38independent woman who had moved to the rural community in the early 1980s.
00:17:42According to Iris, Josephine had been in her early 30s when she bought the farm, already
00:17:47an accomplished herbalist with formal training in botany.
00:17:50She was a city girl originally, Iris explained one evening as they sat outside the trailer.
00:17:55Had some fancy education, though she never talked much about her past.
00:17:59Said she came here looking for peace and space to grow her gardens.
00:18:02What did she look like?
00:18:03Maya asked, trying to picture the woman who had lived in their house.
00:18:07Beautiful woman.
00:18:08Tall, with the most striking eyes.
00:18:10One blue, one brown.
00:18:11Her mother was from Jamaica, father was white.
00:18:14She had this wonderful laugh that made you want to laugh too.
00:18:17Even if you didn't know what was funny.
00:18:19And she just disappeared?
00:18:20No warning?
00:18:21Iris' face grew serious.
00:18:23None.
00:18:24Though thinking back she seemed anxious those last few weeks.
00:18:27Less open, always looking over her shoulder.
00:18:29I asked if something was wrong but she just said she was working on an important project
00:18:33and needed to concentrate.
00:18:35Did the police have any theories?
00:18:36They didn't try very hard if you ask me.
00:18:38Young black woman living alone in a rural area?
00:18:41They assumed she'd just left, even with all her belongings still here.
00:18:45As the days passed, Maya couldn't stop thinking about Josephine.
00:18:48Who was she?
00:18:49What had happened to her?
00:18:50And why did Maya feel such a strong connection to a woman she had never met?
00:18:54One evening, as she was cleaning what would eventually be Ethan's bedroom, Maya noticed
00:18:59that one floorboard moved slightly when she stepped on it.
00:19:02Curious, she knelt down to examine it.
00:19:04The board was loose and when she pried it up with a screwdriver, she found a small space
00:19:09underneath.
00:19:10Heart pounding, she shone her flashlight into the cavity.
00:19:13There was something there, a metal box about the size of a thick hardcover book.
00:19:17She carefully lifted it out.
00:19:19The tin box was old, its surface tarnished but still solid.
00:19:23There was no lock, just a simple latch.
00:19:26Maya hesitated, feeling like she was intruding on someone's private space.
00:19:30But this was her house now, and whatever secrets it held belonged to her too.
00:19:34She opened the box.
00:19:36Inside, protected from the elements that had damaged so much of the house, were three items.
00:19:41A leather-bound journal, a small stack of photographs, and an ornate brass key.
00:19:46Maya lifted out the journal first.
00:19:47The cover was soft with age and use.
00:19:50The pages slightly yellowed at the edges.
00:19:52Opening to the first page, she read, Property of Josephine Eleanor Mercer, 1982.
00:20:00This was Josephine's personal journal.
00:20:02Maya's hands trembled slightly as she carefully turned the pages.
00:20:06The handwriting was neat and precise, detailing Josephine's thoughts and experiences as she
00:20:11established her new life on the farm.
00:20:13The early entries were full of hope and plans, sketches of garden layouts, lists of medicinal
00:20:19plants, notes on the local ecosystem.
00:20:22Josephine wrote about renovating the house, making friends with neighbors, including a
00:20:26much younger Iris, and her joy in having space to grow her healing garden.
00:20:30As Maya read further, she discovered that Josephine hadn't been just any herbalist.
00:20:35She had a Ph.D. in botanical biochemistry from Cornell University, and worked in pharmaceutical
00:20:41research before leaving to pursue her own studies.
00:20:44Corporate research is too constrained by profit motives, Josephine had written.
00:20:48Nature has provided remedies for so many ailments, if only we approach it with respect rather
00:20:54than exploitation.
00:20:55Here, I can combine traditional knowledge with modern science, free from shareholders
00:20:59and patents.
00:21:00Maya looked through the photographs next.
00:21:02They showed a striking woman with mixed features, exactly as Iris had described her, tall and
00:21:08elegant, with distinctive heterochromatic eyes.
00:21:11Many pictures showed Josephine in her gardens, surrounded by plants at various stages of
00:21:16growth.
00:21:17Others showed the house when it was well maintained, with flowering vines covering the porch and
00:21:21neat pathways leading to different garden areas.
00:21:24The brass key was heavy in Maya's hand, ornate and old-fashioned, no idea what it might open,
00:21:29but she placed it carefully in her pocket.
00:21:31As she continued reading the journal, the entries became increasingly technical, with
00:21:35chemical compounds and molecular structures that Maya, despite her nursing background,
00:21:41couldn't fully understand.
00:21:42Josephine wrote about a particular plant compound she was isolating that showed remarkable efficacy
00:21:48against something called Carther's syndrome.
00:21:50Maya recognized that name.
00:21:52Carther's syndrome was a rare autoimmune disease that caused progressive organ failure.
00:21:57It was named after the doctor who first identified it in the 1970s.
00:22:01As a nurse, she knew it was essentially a death sentence.
00:22:05Expensive treatments could slow its progression but not stop it.
00:22:08The final entries in the journal took a darker turn.
00:22:11Josephine wrote about someone she referred to only as R.P. who had shown unusual interest
00:22:15in her research.
00:22:16R.P. visited again today.
00:22:19One entry from April 1, 989 read, His offer has increased to seven figures, but money
00:22:25isn't the issue.
00:22:26I don't trust what his company would do with this research.
00:22:29The compound should be available to everyone who needs it, not locked behind patents and
00:22:33price tags.
00:22:34He didn't take the rejection well, said I should reconsider, that things could become
00:22:38difficult for me if I continued to refuse.
00:22:41The very last entry, dated May 15, 1989, was brief and chilling.
00:22:48Someone was in the lab last night while I was asleep.
00:22:50Nothing seems to be missing, but papers were moved.
00:22:53I'm moving everything important to the secondary location tonight.
00:22:57If anything happens to me, the truth is hidden where only the right person will find it.
00:23:00R.P. will never have my work.
00:23:02After that, nothing.
00:23:04The remaining pages were blank.
00:23:05Maya sat on the dusty floor holding the journal, a chill running down her spine despite the
00:23:10warm evening.
00:23:11Josephine had feared for her safety, had hidden her research, and then had disappeared.
00:23:16This wasn't just an abandoned house Maya had purchased, it was a crime scene.
00:23:21And somewhere on the property, Josephine Mercer had hidden a medical breakthrough worth killing
00:23:26for.
00:23:27Maya couldn't sleep that night.
00:23:28The journal, the photos, and especially Josephine's final ominous entry kept replaying in her
00:23:34mind.
00:23:35She had so many questions.
00:23:36Who was R.P.?
00:23:37What exactly had Josephine discovered?
00:23:40And most importantly, what had happened to her?
00:23:42In the morning, rather than going to work, Maya called in sick and drove to the local
00:23:47library.
00:23:48The older building had a small archive of local newspapers on microfiche and a section
00:23:52dedicated to local history.
00:23:54The librarian, a woman in her 60s, raised her eyebrows when Maya asked about Josephine
00:23:59Mercer.
00:24:00Doing research on the Mercer case?
00:24:02She asked.
00:24:03Or did you just buy that old house up on Mill Road?
00:24:05News clearly traveled fast in small towns.
00:24:08Both actually, Maya admitted.
00:24:09I'm trying to understand what happened to her.
00:24:12The librarian led Maya to a filing cabinet with newspaper archives.
00:24:16These are sorted by date.
00:24:18Josephine Mercer disappeared in May 1989.
00:24:22The biggest stories were in the weeks right after, then follow-ups when the case went
00:24:26cold.
00:24:27She paused.
00:24:28I knew her, you know.
00:24:29Used to visit her sometimes when my arthritis was acting up.
00:24:32She made a salve that worked better than anything I've tried since.
00:24:35The microfiche revealed exactly what Iris had suggested.
00:24:38A cursory investigation with minimal effort.
00:24:41The headline from May 27, 1989 read, Local Herbalist Missing.
00:24:47Full Play or Voluntary Disappearance?
00:24:50The article detailed how a neighbor, Iris, Maya realized, had reported Josephine missing
00:24:55after not seeing her for several days.
00:24:57Police found no signs of struggle in the house, though Josephine's car was still in the garage,
00:25:02and all her personal belongings remained.
00:25:04The prevailing theory seemed to be that she had possibly left of her own accord for personal
00:25:09reasons.
00:25:10A follow-up article from two weeks later mentioned that police had exhausted all leads and were
00:25:14scaling back the investigation.
00:25:16There was a quote from the sheriff at the time.
00:25:18Some people just want to disappear and start over.
00:25:21Without evidence of foul play, there's not much more we can do.
00:25:24Maya couldn't believe how quickly the case had been dismissed.
00:25:27A brilliant scientist had vanished without a trace, leaving behind everything she owned,
00:25:32and the authorities had essentially shrugged it off.
00:25:34In the local history section, she found a small book about prominent residents of the
00:25:38county.
00:25:39Josephine had a brief mention.
00:25:41Josephine Mercer, 1956, came to our community in 1982, establishing herself as a skilled
00:25:49herbalist and botanical researcher.
00:25:51With degrees from Cornell University, Ms. Mercer chose our rural county for its biodiversity
00:25:57and undeveloped land.
00:25:58Her disappearance in 1989 remains unsolved.
00:26:02Maya took photos of everything she found, then asked the librarian,
00:26:05Do you know if anyone named R.P. was connected to Josephine?
00:26:09The librarian thought for a moment, not that I recall off the top of my head, but there
00:26:13was a fancy man from a pharmaceutical company who came to see her a few times.
00:26:18I remember because he looked so out of place, expensive suit, luxury car.
00:26:23People noticed.
00:26:24Do you remember which pharmaceutical company?
00:26:26Something with an R, I think.
00:26:28Radcliffe?
00:26:29Yes.
00:26:30Radcliffe Pharmaceuticals.
00:26:31They were big back then.
00:26:32Still are today.
00:26:33Maya's heart rate accelerated.
00:26:35R.P. could be the company itself, or someone who worked there.
00:26:39She thanked the librarian and headed to a coffee shop with internet access to continue
00:26:43her research.
00:26:44Radcliffe Pharmaceuticals was indeed still a major player in the industry, with global
00:26:48reach and billions in annual revenue.
00:26:51Their corporate history page mentioned that from 1975 to 2005, the company had been led
00:26:58by CEO and Chairman Richard Patton.
00:27:00Richard Patton, R.P.
00:27:02Maya found an old photograph of Patton from a 1990 business magazine.
00:27:07He had been in his 50s then, with steel gray hair and cold eyes, accepting an award for
00:27:12pharmaceutical innovation.
00:27:14She dug deeper, looking for any connection between Radcliffe Pharmaceuticals and Carther's
00:27:18Syndrome, the disease Josephine had been researching.
00:27:21After nearly an hour, she found something, a small article from 1988, mentioning that
00:27:28Radcliffe had been developing a treatment for Carther's Syndrome, but had abandoned
00:27:33the research after unsuccessful clinical trials.
00:27:36The timeline fit perfectly, Radcliffe had failed to develop a treatment, Josephine,
00:27:41working independently, had succeeded.
00:27:43Richard Patton had tried to buy her research, she had refused, and shortly after, she had
00:27:48vanished.
00:27:49When Maya returned to the property that afternoon, she found Sam working on the roof.
00:27:54She debated whether to share what she'd discovered.
00:27:56She barely knew him, but something told her she could trust him, and she needed allies.
00:28:01As Sam climbed down from the ladder, Maya approached him.
00:28:04Can I talk to you about something strange?
00:28:07Sam wiped his hands on a rag.
00:28:09Strange is my specialty.
00:28:10What's up?
00:28:11Maya showed him the journal, and explained what she'd learned about Josephine and her
00:28:14research.
00:28:15Sam listened without interrupting, his expression growing increasingly serious.
00:28:20I knew Josephine, he finally said when Maya finished.
00:28:23Not well, but I did some work on this house for her about a year before she disappeared.
00:28:27She was a good person, helped my wife when she was sick.
00:28:30Your wife?
00:28:31Maya hadn't heard him mention a wife before.
00:28:33She passed away.
00:28:34Cancer.
00:28:35Josephine's remedies didn't cure her, but they helped with the pain when nothing else
00:28:39would.
00:28:40Sam looked toward the overgrown gardens.
00:28:42I always thought there was something fishy about Josephine disappearing.
00:28:46She loved this place too much to just leave.
00:28:48I think Richard Patton from Radcliffe Pharmaceuticals had something to do with it, Maya said.
00:28:52But I can't prove anything, and I have no idea what happened to her research.
00:28:56Sam considered this.
00:28:58What about that key you found?
00:28:59Any idea what it opens?
00:29:01Maya pulled the brass key from her pocket.
00:29:04Nothing in the house that I've found so far.
00:29:06Might not be for the house itself.
00:29:08Josephine had several outbuildings on the property, a greenhouse, a shed, and I had
00:29:13her build a small laboratory behind the house.
00:29:16Most of them collapsed over the years, but there might be something left.
00:29:19That evening, after Ethan was asleep, Maya and Sam explored the property with flashlights.
00:29:24The greenhouse was just a foundation now, broken glass scattered around it.
00:29:29The shed had partially collapsed, its contents long ago damaged by weather and animals.
00:29:34The lab should be this way, Sam said, leading her through the overgrown grass.
00:29:38It was solid structure, concrete foundation with proper insulation.
00:29:42They pushed through a thicket of brambles and found themselves facing what looked like
00:29:45a small bunker partially reclaimed by vines and moss.
00:29:48The door was metal, rusted but intact, with an old-fashioned keyhole.
00:29:53Maya's hand trembled slightly as she inserted the brass key.
00:29:56It turned with surprise, as if the lock had been recently maintained.
00:30:00The door creaked open to reveal a small room, perhaps twelve feet square, in remarkably
00:30:05good condition.
00:30:06Someone's been taking care of this place, Sam murmured, sweeping his flashlight around
00:30:11the interior.
00:30:12Unlike the house, the lab showed no signs of animal intrusion or severe weather damage.
00:30:16It was dusty but intact, with shelves of equipment, jars of dried plant material, and a central
00:30:22workbench.
00:30:23The wall was covered with diagrams and notes protected by glass frames.
00:30:27Look at this, Maya said, brushing dust from a modern-looking microscope, far more sophisticated
00:30:33than what she would have expected in a rural herbalist's lab from the 1980s.
00:30:37Under the workbench they found a small safe, also with a keyhole that matched their brass
00:30:41key.
00:30:42Inside was a stack of notebooks filled with detailed formulas, molecular diagrams and
00:30:47experimental results, all in Josephine's precise handwriting.
00:30:51The final notebook contained what appeared to be a breakthrough, a complete formula for
00:30:55a compound derived from a specific plant hybrid Josephine had developed, with documented results
00:31:00showing 94% efficacy in treating Carther's Syndrome.
00:31:04I don't understand all of this, Maya admitted, but from what I can tell, she created something
00:31:09revolutionary, something that could save thousands of lives, and something worth killing for,
00:31:15Sam added grimly.
00:31:16At the bottom of the safe they found a sealed envelope addressed simply, for whoever finds
00:31:21this.
00:31:22With trembling fingers, Maya opened it.
00:31:24Inside was a letter written in the same handwriting as the journal.
00:31:27If you're reading this, I am likely gone.
00:31:30My name is Josephine Mercer, and I fear for my life.
00:31:33Richard Patton of Radcliffe Pharmaceuticals has threatened me repeatedly over my refusal
00:31:38to sell my research.
00:31:39He cannot accept that I developed what his company failed to create.
00:31:43The formula in these notebooks can save countless lives.
00:31:46It belongs to humanity, not to corporate profits.
00:31:49I've hidden copies of my research in multiple locations, along with evidence of Patton's
00:31:53threats.
00:31:54If anything happens to me, the truth must come out.
00:31:57Trust your instincts about who can help you.
00:31:59The house chooses its guardians wisely.
00:32:02Josephine Mercer, May 16, 1989 Maya and Sam looked at each other, the weight
00:32:08of the discovery settling between them.
00:32:11We need to be careful, Sam finally said.
00:32:13If what Josephine wrote is true, we're dealing with powerful people who've already gotten
00:32:17away with one crime, but it's been over 30 years, Maya pointed out.
00:32:22Richard Patton must be elderly by now, if he's even still alive.
00:32:26People like that protect themselves and their legacies, and Radcliffe is still a major corporation
00:32:31with billions at stake.
00:32:32As they carefully gathered the notebooks to take back to the trailer, Maya felt a strange
00:32:37sensation, as if someone was watching them.
00:32:39She turned quickly sweeping her flashlight across the lab but saw nothing, yet the feeling
00:32:44persisted as they made their way back through the overgrown property.
00:32:48Not a threatening presence, but a watchful one, almost protective.
00:32:52That night, Maya dreamed of a woman with mismatched eyes standing in a lush garden, smiling and
00:32:57beckoning her forward.
00:32:58When she woke, the scent of lavender lingered in the air of the trailer, though there was
00:33:02none actually present.
00:33:04The next morning, Maya called the one person she thought might understand the scientific
00:33:07significance of what they'd found, Dr. Elaine Chen, her former supervisor at the hospital
00:33:13and a respected medical researcher.
00:33:15Maya, it's good to hear from you, Dr. Chen said when she answered.
00:33:19How are you doing?
00:33:20I'm…
00:33:21It's complicated.
00:33:22I need your advice on something but it has to stay confidential.
00:33:25Can we meet?
00:33:26They arranged to meet at a cafe in the next town over, where Maya wouldn't be recognized.
00:33:31Maya brought copies of the most important pages from Josephine's research, carefully
00:33:35locking the originals in Sam's truck safe.
00:33:38Dr. Chen listened to Maya's story with growing astonishment, examining the research pages
00:33:43with expert eyes.
00:33:44This is remarkable, she finally said.
00:33:46If these results are accurate, this woman developed a complete therapeutic protocol
00:33:51for Carther's syndrome decades ahead of current research, and using natural compounds
00:33:55with minimal side effects.
00:33:57She looked up at Maya.
00:33:58Do you understand what you've found?
00:34:00I think so, Maya said, but I need to hear it from you.
00:34:03You've found a medical breakthrough worth billions of dollars.
00:34:06Carther's syndrome affects only about 50,000 people worldwide, but there's currently
00:34:11no effective treatment.
00:34:12Patients typically survive only three to five years after diagnosis.
00:34:16A cure would be monumental.
00:34:18But it's not mine, Maya pointed out.
00:34:21It's Josephine's work.
00:34:22Legally complicated, since she's been missing for decades and presumably dead.
00:34:26But ethically, you're right.
00:34:28Dr. Chen studied Maya thoughtfully.
00:34:30What do you intend to do with this discovery?
00:34:32I don't know yet, but I know I want to honor Josephine's wishes, that it benefit people,
00:34:38not just profits.
00:34:39Dr. Chen nodded.
00:34:40I have contacts in medical research ethics and patent law.
00:34:44Let me make some calls.
00:34:45In the meantime, be extremely careful.
00:34:47If your theory about Richard Patton is correct, this information is dangerous.
00:34:51I've only told you and Sam Reynolds, a local contractor who's been helping me with the
00:34:56house.
00:34:57Keep it that way for now.
00:34:58And Maya?
00:34:59Consider making digital copies of everything and storing them securely online.
00:35:04Information can't disappear if it exists in multiple places.
00:35:07When Maya returned to the property, she found an unfamiliar black SUV parked in the driveway.
00:35:12A tall, thin man in an expensive suit was speaking with Sam near the trailer.
00:35:17Ethan and Lily were nowhere to be seen, which immediately made Maya uneasy.
00:35:21As she approached, Sam's face was carefully neutral, but his eyes signaled caution.
00:35:26Ah, Ms. Coleman, the man said smoothly.
00:35:28I was just introducing myself to your friend, Thomas Wright, county assessor's office.
00:35:33He handed her a business card that indeed identified him as such.
00:35:37What can I help you with, Mr. Wright?
00:35:39Maya asked, keeping her voice even.
00:35:41Just a routine matter.
00:35:42It seems there were some irregularities with your property purchase.
00:35:46The county is reviewing several transactions from that auction, including yours.
00:35:50Irregularities?
00:35:51Maya repeated.
00:35:52What kind of irregularities?
00:35:54Technical details.
00:35:55The property may not have been properly listed for auction.
00:35:59Appropriate notifications to interested parties may not have been made.
00:36:02Just procedural issues.
00:36:03His smile didn't reach his eyes.
00:36:05In the meantime, I wanted to let you know that the county may need to temporarily suspend
00:36:10your ownership pending review.
00:36:12Maya felt her heart rate accelerate, but she maintained her composure.
00:36:15That's odd.
00:36:16The clerk didn't mention any issues when I completed the paperwork.
00:36:19These concerns were raised subsequently.
00:36:21I'm sure it will all be cleared up, but the process could take several months, during
00:36:25which time, technically, you shouldn't be occupying the property.
00:36:29Sam stepped forward.
00:36:30You'll need to provide written documentation of these alleged irregularities, along with
00:36:34the specific county codes being cited.
00:36:36My cousin practices real estate law.
00:36:38She'll want to review everything.
00:36:40Something flickered across Wright's face.
00:36:42Annoyance, perhaps, or recalculation.
00:36:45Of course, I'll have those documents sent over.
00:36:47In the meantime, Ms. Coleman, there's another option that might interest you.
00:36:51The county has been authorized to offer you a settlement, $20,000 to relinquish your claim
00:36:56to the property.
00:36:57That's more than 20 times what you paid.
00:36:59Now Maya understood.
00:37:01This wasn't about procedural irregularities.
00:37:04Someone knew what she had found and wanted her gone.
00:37:06I'm not interested in selling, she said firmly.
00:37:09This is my home now, Wright's pleasant demeanor cooled.
00:37:12I strongly suggest you consider the offer, Ms. Coleman.
00:37:16Property disputes can become complicated, especially for someone in your financial situation.
00:37:21He handed her a card.
00:37:22Call me when you've reconsidered.
00:37:24As he drove away, Sam said quietly, that man is not from the county assessor's office.
00:37:29How do you know?
00:37:30Because my cousin who practices real estate law, she's married to the actual county assessor.
00:37:35That man is an imposter.
00:37:37Maya felt a chill.
00:37:38Where are Ethan and Lily?
00:37:40Inside the house.
00:37:41I sent them in when he arrived.
00:37:42I didn't like the way he was looking around.
00:37:45Sam's expression was grim.
00:37:46It's starting already.
00:37:48Someone knows what we found.
00:37:49But how?
00:37:50We've been so careful.
00:37:51Small towns, big ears.
00:37:53Or maybe.
00:37:54Sam glanced toward the lab they'd discovered.
00:37:57Maybe they've been watching this place all along, waiting to see if anyone ever found
00:38:00Josephine's research.
00:38:02That evening Maya searched online for information about Thomas Wright and the county assessor's
00:38:06office.
00:38:07As Sam had suspected, there was no Thomas Wright listed as an employee.
00:38:10The business card had looked legitimate but it was fake.
00:38:13She also researched the current status of Radcliffe Pharmaceuticals.
00:38:17Richard Patton, now in his 80s, was no longer CEO but remained on the board of directors
00:38:22as chairman emeritus.
00:38:24His son, Richard Patton Jr., was now the CEO, continuing the family's control of the company.
00:38:30The company had grown exponentially since the 1980s, with annual revenues exceeding
00:38:35$50 billion.
00:38:36Their main profit centers were treatments for chronic conditions, medications patients
00:38:40needed to take for life, rather than cures that would eliminate the need for ongoing
00:38:45treatment.
00:38:46As she scrolled through news about the company, one recent headline caught her eye.
00:38:50Radcliffe Announces Phase 1 Trials for Carther's Syndrome Treatment
00:38:54According to the article, Radcliffe had recently revived its research into Carther's syndrome,
00:38:59claiming new proprietary approaches to treating the disease.
00:39:02The company's stock had jumped 12% on the announcement.
00:39:06Maya felt sick.
00:39:07After abandoning their research for decades, Radcliffe had suddenly renewed interest in
00:39:11Carther's syndrome.
00:39:13Just as she had discovered Josephine's breakthrough, that couldn't be coincidence.
00:39:17The next day, Maya did something she had been avoiding.
00:39:20She went into the main house to clean what would be her bedroom.
00:39:23Despite Sam's progress on the roof and basic structural issues, the interior was still
00:39:27largely untouched.
00:39:29But if they were going to face challenges to their ownership, Maya was determined to
00:39:32show they were actively living there.
00:39:35As she cleared debris from what would eventually be her room, she noticed something odd about
00:39:39one section of the wall.
00:39:41The floral wallpaper pattern subtly changed, as if a repair had been made, and the replacement
00:39:46wallpaper didn't quite match.
00:39:48Curious, Maya carefully peeled back the edge of the wallpaper.
00:39:52Behind it was a small recess in the wall containing another metal box, similar to the one she'd
00:39:56found under the floorboard.
00:39:58This box contained newspaper clippings from 1988 and early 1989, all related to Radcliffe
00:40:07Pharmaceuticals.
00:40:08One headline stood out, Radcliffe Abandons Carther's Treatment After Failed Trials.
00:40:13Another article detailed how Radcliffe's stock had plummeted after the announcement,
00:40:17with analysts questioning the leadership of Richard Patton.
00:40:20The company had invested over $100 million in the failed treatment.
00:40:24There were also photocopies of threatening letters, unsigned but written on Radcliffe
00:40:28letterhead, warning an unnamed recipient about the consequences of interference with proprietary
00:40:33research.
00:40:34Most disturbing was a small cassette tape labeled simply, May 10, 1989.
00:40:40Maya needed to find a cassette player to hear what was on it.
00:40:43That afternoon, another visitor arrived at the property.
00:40:46A sleek BMW with tinted windows.
00:40:49The driver was a polished woman in her 40s, the designer suit, and a professional smile.
00:40:53Miss Coleman?
00:40:54I'm Victoria Patton, Vice President of Research Acquisition at Radcliffe Pharmaceuticals.
00:40:59Maya's blood ran cold.
00:41:01Patton?
00:41:02She must be related to Richard Patton, perhaps his daughter or daughter-in-law.
00:41:06What can I do for you, Miss Patton?
00:41:08Maya asked, keeping her distance.
00:41:10I understand you recently purchased this property.
00:41:12Radcliffe Pharmaceuticals has a historical interest in this land for research purposes.
00:41:17We'd like to make you a generous offer, $250,000 cash, for the house and all contents, as is.
00:41:24The amount was staggering, enough to solve all of Maya's financial problems and then
00:41:28some.
00:41:29But the timing and the connection to Patton made it clear what this was really about.
00:41:33I'm not interested in selling, Maya said firmly.
00:41:36But I'm curious, why would a pharmaceutical giant be interested in an abandoned house?
00:41:41Maya's smile remained fixed.
00:41:42The property has unique botanical specimens we've been tracking for potential research.
00:41:47Nothing sinister, I assure you.
00:41:49She handed Maya a business card.
00:41:51Think about it.
00:41:52A quarter million dollars could change your life.
00:41:54Our offer will remain open for 48 hours.
00:41:57As the BMW drove away, Sam, who had been working nearby and overheard everything, approached
00:42:02Maya.
00:42:03You know what this means, right?
00:42:04They know about Josephine's research.
00:42:07They're desperate to get it back.
00:42:08But after all these years, why would they still care so much?
00:42:12Because her formula works, Sam said simply.
00:42:14And a working treatment is worth billions to them, especially one they can claim they
00:42:18developed themselves.
00:42:20That night Maya used an old cassette player borrowed from Iris to listen to the tape from
00:42:24the hidden box.
00:42:25The recording was somewhat muffled, but clear enough.
00:42:28I told you, Richard, my work is not for sale.
00:42:30The voice was female, with a hint of an accent, Josephine Mercer, Maya realized with a shiver.
00:42:36Everyone has a price, Dr. Mercer.
00:42:38A male voice, cold and controlled.
00:42:40Name yours.
00:42:41It's not about money.
00:42:42Your company wants to patent this compound and charge patients a fortune for it.
00:42:47I want it available to everyone who needs it.
00:42:49Don't be naive.
00:42:51Development costs money.
00:42:52Clinical trials cost money.
00:42:53Your failed trials cost money, Josephine retorted.
00:42:57Mine succeeded because I approached the problem differently.
00:43:00And I've already documented everything.
00:43:01The research exists, with or without Radcliffe.
00:43:05That's where you're wrong.
00:43:06The man's voice hardened.
00:43:07Without Radcliffe's resources, your little discovery will never help anyone.
00:43:11We own the regulatory pathway.
00:43:13We own the distribution channels.
00:43:15Without us, you're just a woman playing with plants in the woods.
00:43:18I've already sent documentation to colleagues.
00:43:21If anything happens to me, nothing will happen to you if you cooperate.
00:43:25But things could become difficult if you continue this obstruction.
00:43:29Very difficult indeed.
00:43:30Are you threatening me, Mr. Patton?
00:43:32I'm offering you one last opportunity to be reasonable.
00:43:35Two million dollars for your research.
00:43:37I'll offer.
00:43:38Not interested.
00:43:39Then you'll regret it.
00:43:40Everyone has weaknesses, Dr. Mercer.
00:43:42Everyone has something to lose.
00:43:44The recording ended.
00:43:45Maya sat in stunned silence, the cassette player still in her hands.
00:43:49She had just heard Richard Patton threatening Josephine Mercer, days before her disappearance.
00:43:54It wasn't just circumstantial evidence anymore.
00:43:57It was motive, captured in Patton's own voice.
00:44:00The next morning, Maya called Dr. Chen with an update on the situation.
00:44:04They're moving fast, doctor, Chen said sounding worried.
00:44:08If they're offering that much money, they're desperate to get Josephine's research before
00:44:11you understand its full value.
00:44:13Which is what exactly?
00:44:15Based on my preliminary analysis of the formulas you showed me, we're talking billions.
00:44:19A patent on an effective Carther's syndrome treatment would be worth at least five dollars
00:44:23minus ten billion over its lifetime.
00:44:26Possibly much more.
00:44:27Maya felt dizzy at the number.
00:44:29What should I do?
00:44:30I've spoken with a colleague who specializes in pharmaceutical patents.
00:44:34She's willing to meet with you, and I think we should consider bringing this to the FBI.
00:44:38If your recording proves Richard Patton threatened Josephine before her disappearance, that's
00:44:43evidence in a potential murder investigation.
00:44:46Before Maya could respond, she heard Ethan calling urgently from outside.
00:44:50Mom, something's wrong with the water.
00:44:52Maya rushed outside to find Ethan at the trailer's small sink, which was running brown, foul-smelling
00:44:58water.
00:44:59It was fine earlier, Ethan said.
00:45:01Then it suddenly changed.
00:45:02Sam examined the trailer's water connection, which ran to a well on the property.
00:45:06Someone's tampered with the well, he concluded grimly.
00:45:09This didn't happen naturally.
00:45:11They found the well cap had been removed and quickly discovered evidence that someone had
00:45:15poured something into their water supply.
00:45:17An empty container of industrial chemicals lay partially hidden in nearby bushes.
00:45:21We need to report this to the police, Maya insisted.
00:45:25We will, Sam agreed, but don't expect much help.
00:45:28He was right.
00:45:29A local sheriff listened to their report with obvious skepticism.
00:45:32Probably just kids playing pranks, he suggested.
00:45:35No evidence anyone specific did this, but we'll look into it.
00:45:39His casual dismissal reminded Maya of how Josephine's disappearance had been handled,
00:45:44with minimal concern or effort.
00:45:46Later that day, Maya received a call from an unlisted number.
00:45:49Miss Coleman, this is Richard Patton, Jr.
00:45:51I understand you've turned down our generous offer for your property.
00:45:55Maya's heart raced, but she kept her voice steady.
00:45:58That's right.
00:45:59The house isn't for sale.
00:46:00I think you misunderstand the situation.
00:46:02We're not just interested in the house.
00:46:04We're interested in everything associated with it, including certain research materials
00:46:08you may have found.
00:46:09I don't know what you're talking about, Maya lied.
00:46:12Let's not play games.
00:46:13My father spent decades ensuring that Dr. Mercer's work remained buried.
00:46:17I'm prepared to be far more generous than he was.
00:46:20One million dollars, Miss Coleman, for the house and all its contents.
00:46:24No questions asked.
00:46:26Maya's mind reeled at the amount, enough money to secure her and Ethan's future forever.
00:46:31But she thought of Josephine, who had refused an offer twice as large because she believed
00:46:35in something more important than money.
00:46:37The answer is still no, Maya said firmly.
00:46:40There was a long pause.
00:46:41I admire your conviction, Miss Coleman.
00:46:43But I wonder if you've considered your son's well-being in this equation.
00:46:47Ethan isn't it?
00:46:48With his asthma?
00:46:49Living in a remote area, far from medical care, accidents happen.
00:46:53Ice flooded Maya's veins.
00:46:55Are you threatening my child?
00:46:56I'm simply pointing out that choices have consequences, some more immediate than others.
00:47:01Think carefully about what matters most to you.
00:47:04The call ended, leaving Maya shaking with rage and fear.
00:47:07This had escalated beyond property disputes and research theft.
00:47:11They were threatening Ethan.
00:47:12When Sam arrived later, Maya told him about the call.
00:47:15His face darkened with anger.
00:47:17We need to protect Ethan, he said immediately.
00:47:20Lily too, they know she's been here.
00:47:22Should we leave?
00:47:23Should we just go somewhere else until this is resolved?
00:47:25Sam thought for a moment.
00:47:26That might be exactly what they want.
00:47:28To scare you away long enough for them to search the property thoroughly.
00:47:31No, I think we need to stay and fight, but smartly.
00:47:35My house has a good security system.
00:47:37You and Ethan should stay with us for now.
00:47:39That evening, as Maya and Ethan prepared to leave for Sam's house, Ethan made a disturbing
00:47:44discovery.
00:47:45His inhaler wasn't working properly.
00:47:47When he tried to use it, nothing happened, though it should have been nearly full.
00:47:51Someone tampered with this.
00:47:52Maya realized, examining the inhaler.
00:47:55The medication inside had been emptied and replaced with water.
00:47:58Now thoroughly frightened, Maya hurried Ethan to the car.
00:48:01As she turned the key in the ignition, Sam suddenly shouted,
00:48:04Wait!
00:48:05Don't start the car!
00:48:06He dropped to the ground, looking underneath the vehicle, then emerged with a grim expression.
00:48:11Brake line's been cut, if you'd driven down that hill.
00:48:14The implications were terrifying.
00:48:16This wasn't corporate intimidation anymore.
00:48:18It was attempted murder.
00:48:20They called the sheriff again, who this time took the report more seriously but still seemed
00:48:24reluctant to acknowledge the connection to Radcliffe Pharmaceuticals.
00:48:27You're suggesting a multi-billion dollar corporation is trying to kill you over an
00:48:31old house?
00:48:32He asked skeptically.
00:48:33That's a serious accusation without hard evidence.
00:48:36What about the threatening phone call?
00:48:38The tampering with my son's inhaler?
00:48:40The cut brake lines?
00:48:42Maya demanded.
00:48:43Could be unrelated incidents, or someone with a grudge against you personally.
00:48:47We'll investigate, but I need to be honest.
00:48:49It's going to be difficult to connect this to a major corporation without substantial
00:48:53evidence.
00:48:54That night, sheltering at Sam's house with Ethan and Lily, Maya realized how quickly
00:48:59the situation had escalated.
00:49:00They had gone from discovering valuable research to being actively targeted in just a few days.
00:49:05We need to be proactive, Sam said as they discussed their options.
00:49:09If they're willing to go this far, they won't stop.
00:49:11I've been thinking about that tape recording, Maya said.
00:49:15It's evidence of Richard Patton threatening Josephine right before she disappeared.
00:49:19The local sheriff might not take it seriously, the FBI might.
00:49:22It's thirty years old, Sam pointed out, and without Josephine's body, they might still
00:49:27treat it as a missing person case, not murder.
00:49:30But what if we could find her, Maya suggested.
00:49:33What if she left more clues about where to look?
00:49:35The next day, while Sam stayed with the kids, Maya returned to the property with Iris, who
00:49:40had known Josephine better than anyone still living in the area.
00:49:44Josephine was methodical, Iris recalled as they walked the overgrown property.
00:49:49She would have had a system, a backup plan if anything happened to her.
00:49:52She mentioned a secondary location in her journal.
00:49:55We found her lab, but there might be somewhere else.
00:49:57They systematically explored the property, looking for any structure or hiding place
00:50:01they might have missed.
00:50:03It was Iris who noticed something odd about the old well.
00:50:06This well was here when Josephine bought the place, but I don't remember that stone pattern
00:50:10around the edge.
00:50:11She must have rebuilt it at some point.
00:50:13The stones around the well's edge formed a pattern that, when viewed from above, resembled
00:50:17a compass rose.
00:50:19One stone was slightly different in color than the others, marking what would be north
00:50:23in the pattern.
00:50:24It's pointing at something, Maya realized.
00:50:26Following the direction, they came to a massive old oak tree at the edge of the property.
00:50:31The tree showed no obvious signs of hiding anything, but when Maya circled it completely,
00:50:36she noticed a small carving on the opposite side from the well, the initials JM and a
00:50:40small arrow pointing down.
00:50:42She buried something here, Maya said, excitement building.
00:50:46They hurried to the trailer to retrieve a shovel.
00:50:48Digging was hard in the compacted soil around the tree's roots, but about two feet down,
00:50:53Maya's shovel struck something solid.
00:50:55Carefully, they uncovered a waterproof container, sealed tight against the elements.
00:50:59Inside, protected by layers of plastic, was a waterproof case containing a videocassette
00:51:05labeled insurance, some documents, and a letter dated May 17, 1989, the day after her
00:51:13last journal entry, and likely the day before she disappeared.
00:51:17The letter read, To whoever finds this, if you're reading this, I fear the worst has
00:51:22happened.
00:51:23Richard Patton has made it clear he will stop at nothing to acquire my research on Carther's
00:51:26Syndrome.
00:51:27The enclosed video contains my full testimony and evidence of his threats.
00:51:31I've also included coordinates to a location in the state forest where I've hidden complete
00:51:35duplicates of all my research findings.
00:51:38Patton must never find this material.
00:51:40If I disappear, do not trust the local authorities.
00:51:43Richard has influence everywhere.
00:51:45Take this evidence to the federal level.
00:51:47Josephine Mercer.
00:51:48The documents included a hand-drawn map with coordinates to a location deep in the state
00:51:52forest, about 30 miles away, and most damning of all, a series of photographs showing Richard
00:51:58Patton on the property, apparently taken secretly from inside the house.
00:52:02In one image, he appeared to be in a heated argument with Josephine on her front porch.
00:52:07We need to find a VCR for that tape, Maya said, and we need to check these coordinates.
00:52:12Before they could leave, however, they heard a vehicle coming up the driveway, the sheriff's
00:52:17car, but it wasn't a routine visit.
00:52:19The sheriff looked grim.
00:52:20The sheriff approached.
00:52:21Ms. Coleman, I need to inform you that the county judge has issued an emergency injunction
00:52:25prohibiting you from occupying this property pending resolution of ownership disputes.
00:52:29What?
00:52:30That's ridiculous?
00:52:31I purchased this property legally.
00:52:32I'm just delivering the order, ma'am.
00:52:34You have 24 hours to vacate.
00:52:36After that, you'll be considered trespassing.
00:52:38Maya recognized what was happening.
00:52:40Who requested this injunction?
00:52:42The sheriff avoided her eyes.
00:52:44That information isn't included in my instructions.
00:52:46It was Radcliffe Pharmaceuticals, wasn't it, or someone connected to them?
00:52:50I'm just doing my job, Ms. Coleman.
00:52:52After the sheriff left, Iris looked troubled.
00:52:54The judge who would have issued that order, Judge Harmon, he's been in Richard Patton's
00:52:59pocket for decades.
00:53:00Patton funded his first campaign back in the 80s.
00:53:03Maya carefully secured their discoveries in Sam's truck before leaving the property.
00:53:08They were running out of time and options, but now they had something concrete, evidence
00:53:12connecting Richard Patton directly to Josephine, and coordinates to what might be the final
00:53:16piece of the puzzle.
00:53:18That evening, a thunderstorm rolled in, bringing fierce lightning and heavy rain.
00:53:22As they sheltered in Sam's house, Ethan suddenly became agitated.
00:53:26Mom, I keep seeing a woman.
00:53:27By the window, she's trying to show me something.
00:53:30What woman, honey?
00:53:31Maya asked, concerned.
00:53:32The woman from the photographs?
00:53:34The one who lived in our house before?
00:53:36I saw her last night, too, but I thought I was dreaming.
00:53:39Maya and Sam exchanged glances.
00:53:41Could Ethan be seeing Josephine's spirit, or was his imagination working overtime with
00:53:45all the stress?
00:53:47What is she trying to show you?
00:53:48Maya asked gently.
00:53:50Something about the apple trees.
00:53:51She keeps pointing to the orchard.
00:53:53Despite the storm, Maya and Sam decided to investigate.
00:53:57With raincoats and flashlights, they made their way to the abandoned orchard.
00:54:00The wind whipped around them as lightning illuminated the gnarled old apple trees.
00:54:04There, Ethan said suddenly, pointing to the largest tree in the center of the orchard.
00:54:09That's where she was pointing.
00:54:10The tree was ancient, its trunk thick and twisted.
00:54:13At its base, partially visible in the disturbed soil, was another container, similar to the
00:54:18one they'd found by the oak tree.
00:54:21It was a small device Maya didn't recognize at first.
00:54:24An old microcassette recorder, the kind used for dictation in the 1980s.
00:54:29And with it, a final note from Josephine.
00:54:31May 18, 1989.
00:54:34Richard Patton is coming back tonight.
00:54:36He's threatened to destroy everything if I don't cooperate.
00:54:39This may be my last chance to record the truth.
00:54:42If anything happens to me, let the truth be known.
00:54:45The attached microcassette contained a recording of Josephine's voice, explaining in detail
00:54:49her research.
00:54:50Patton's escalating threats, and her fear for her safety.
00:54:54Most damning of all, it included a recorded conversation where Patton explicitly threatened
00:54:59her life.
00:55:00We have him, Maya whispered.
00:55:02After all these years, we have him.
00:55:03The next morning, Maya made two crucial phone calls.
00:55:06The first was to Dr. Chen, who had found a Patton attorney willing to help protect Josephine's
00:55:11research.
00:55:12The second was to the FBI field office in the nearest city, where she explained that
00:55:16she had evidence related to a 30-year-old potential murder and corporate conspiracy.
00:55:21To Maya's surprise, the FBI agent on the phone seemed immediately interested, particularly
00:55:26when she mentioned Radcliffe Pharmaceuticals and Richard Patton.
00:55:29We've had an open file on Patton for years, the agent explained, allegations of corporate
00:55:34espionage, bribery of officials, and suspected involvement in at least two other disappearances
00:55:40of research scientists.
00:55:41But we've never had enough evidence to move forward.
00:55:44If what you have is genuine, they arranged for Maya to meet with agents the following
00:55:48day.
00:55:49Meanwhile, Sam's cousin Andrea, the real estate attorney, arrived to examine the injunction
00:55:53against Maya's ownership of the property.
00:55:56This is legally dubious at best, Andrea concluded after reviewing the documents.
00:56:00The judge is citing procedural errors that don't actually exist in the county code.
00:56:05It's a delaying tactic, not a legitimate ruling.
00:56:08Can we fight it?
00:56:09Maya asked.
00:56:10Absolutely.
00:56:11But it will take time.
00:56:12Weeks.
00:56:13Possibly months.
00:56:14In the meantime, technically, you can't stay on the property.
00:56:17Before they could discuss further, Maya's phone rang, an unknown number that she cautiously
00:56:22answered.
00:56:23Ms. Coleman?
00:56:24This is Catherine Weiland from the National Investigative Journal.
00:56:26I understand you've made some interesting discoveries about Radcliffe Pharmaceuticals
00:56:31and a missing scientist named Josephine Mercer.
00:56:34Maya was stunned.
00:56:35How did you hear about this?
00:56:36Dr. Elaine Chen contacted us.
00:56:38She thought your story needed national attention for your safety.
00:56:41I'd like to talk to you about what you've found.
00:56:43The involvement of a national journalist changed the dynamics dramatically.
00:56:48If the story broke publicly, Radcliffe would have a much harder time operating in the shadows.
00:56:53Catherine Weiland arrived later that day, a sharp-eyed woman in her 50s with decades
00:56:57of investigative reporting experience.
00:57:00She listened to Maya's complete story, examined the evidence they'd gathered, and took detailed
00:57:05notes.
00:57:06This is explosive, she concluded.
00:57:08A major pharmaceutical company suppressing a medical breakthrough, a brilliant scientist
00:57:12who disappeared under suspicious circumstances, and now threats against a single mother who
00:57:17discovered the truth.
00:57:18She looked at Maya seriously.
00:57:20Are you prepared for what publishing this story will mean?
00:57:23Radcliffe will come at you with everything they have.
00:57:26They already are, Maya pointed out.
00:57:28At least this way, the truth will be out there, no matter what happens to me.
00:57:32I'll need to verify everything independently, Catherine warned.
00:57:35But if it checks out, and I suspect it will, we'll run the story next week.
00:57:39In the meantime, document everything and stay safe.
00:57:42The next day, Maya met with the FBI agents, turning over copies of all the evidence they'd
00:57:47found.
00:57:48The agents were particularly interested in the voice recordings of Richard Patton and
00:57:52the coordinates to the location in the state forest.
00:57:54We'll send a team to investigate those coordinates immediately, the lead agent promised.
00:57:59If there's anything there connected to Josephine Mercer, we'll find it.
00:58:02Two days later, Catherine called with news.
00:58:05We're running the story tomorrow.
00:58:07Rural Mom Uncovers Decades, Old Pharmaceutical Conspiracy.
00:58:11I've verified Josephine's credentials, the validity of her research, and Richard
00:58:15Patton's presence in the area when she disappeared.
00:58:18Radcliffe's PR team is already in panic mode, trying to get ahead of it.
00:58:22Within hours of the story breaking online, it was picked up by major news outlets across
00:58:27the country.
00:58:28Maya's phone began ringing constantly, reporters seeking comments, former colleagues expressing
00:58:33support, and even a few threats from anonymous callers.
00:58:37Almost significantly, the county judge suddenly reversed his injunction on Maya's property,
00:58:42citing, new information that resolved the procedural concerns.
00:58:46Then the FBI called with news that changed everything.
00:58:49We found human remains at the coordinates Josephine provided.
00:58:52Preliminary identification based on dental records confirms it's Josephine Mercer, and
00:58:57there's evidence of foul play, blunt force trauma to the skull.
00:59:01After 30 years, Josephine Mercer had been found, and with her, the truth about what
00:59:05had happened that night in May 1989.
00:59:09Richard Patton, now in his 80s, was brought in for questioning.
00:59:13Within days, facing overwhelming evidence and the testimony of a former Radcliffe security
00:59:17officer who had been present that night, Patton was charged with Josephine's murder.
00:59:22The story dominated national headlines.
00:59:24Pharmaceutical Titan Charged in 1989, Murder of Brilliant Black Female Scientist, Justice.
00:59:31After 30 years, The Josephine Mercer Case, Rural Mother's Discovery Leads to Arrest
00:59:36of Billionaire, Radcliffe Pharmaceutical's stock plummeted as the full story emerged.
00:59:41Multiple executives were implicated in the decades-long cover-up, and the company faced
00:59:45federal investigations into other potential crimes.
00:59:48Meanwhile, with the help of Dr. Chen's contacts, Maya filed for patents on Josephine's formula,
00:59:54listing Josephine as the primary inventor and herself as the executor of the discovery.
00:59:59The patent application specifically noted that the treatment must be made available
01:00:03at affordable prices, honoring Josephine's original intention.
01:00:07Six months later, the transformation was remarkable.
01:00:10The farmhouse had been partially restored with help from community volunteers who had
01:00:14been inspired by the story.
01:00:16Sam had coordinated the efforts, bringing in friends and colleagues to donate time and
01:00:20materials.
01:00:21Maya had established the Josephine Mercer Foundation, dedicated to researching natural
01:00:26medicines and providing health care to underserved communities.
01:00:30The foundation was funded by licensing agreements with ethical pharmaceutical manufacturers
01:00:34who had agreed to produce Josephine's Carther's Syndrome treatment at accessible prices.
01:00:39The overgrown property had been cleared to reveal Josephine's extensive medicinal gardens,
01:00:44now recognized by botanical experts as containing rare plant varieties she had cultivated decades
01:00:50ahead of her time.
01:00:51Ethan, whose asthma had mysteriously improved after spending time on the property, led tours
01:00:56for visitors interested in learning about medicinal plants.
01:00:59Richard Patton had been convicted of second-degree murder and conspiracy, sentenced to spend
01:01:04his remaining years in prison.
01:01:05The justice system had finally worked, though decades late, for Josephine Mercer.
01:01:10On the one-year anniversary of Maya's purchase of the property, a celebration was held at
01:01:15the farm, now known locally as Mercer Gardens.
01:01:18The community gathered to commemorate both Josephine's legacy and the new beginning
01:01:22her work had created.
01:01:24Maya stood on the front porch, looking out at what had once been an abandoned, cursed
01:01:28property, now transformed into a place of healing and hope.
01:01:32Sam stood beside her, their relationship having deepened from friendship to something more
01:01:36over the months of shared struggle.
01:01:38''Would you have believed this was possible a year ago?''
01:01:41Sam asked, taking her hand.
01:01:43''Never,'' Maya admitted.
01:01:44''I was just desperate for a roof over our heads.
01:01:47I never imagined.''
01:01:48She trailed off, noticing something in the upstairs window of the house, a brief flicker
01:01:53of movement, as if someone had walked past.
01:01:55But the house was empty, everyone was outside for the celebration.
01:01:59Later that evening, after the guests had gone and Ethan was asleep, Maya sat alone in what
01:02:04had been Josephine's study, now restored with her books and research materials on display.
01:02:09''Thank you,'' she said softly to the empty room, ''for choosing me to find your work,
01:02:13for trusting me to finish what you started.''
01:02:16A gentle breeze rustled through the open window, carrying the scent of lavender and herbs from
01:02:21the garden.
01:02:22For just a moment, Maya felt a presence beside her, not frightening, but peaceful, watchful,
01:02:27proud.
01:02:28The breeze settled, and Maya was alone again, but she knew she would never truly be alone
01:02:33in this house.
01:02:34Josephine's spirit, her legacy, would always be there, guiding the next chapter of the
01:02:38story that had begun with a desperate gamble on an abandoned home, a home that had become
01:02:43so much more than just a house.
01:02:45It had become a second chance, for Maya and Ethan, for Josephine's groundbreaking work,
01:02:50and for countless patients who would now benefit from a discovery nearly lost to corporate
01:02:54greed and violence.
01:02:56Maya smiled as she turned out the light, ready to face whatever tomorrow might bring.