Chapter 10 - THE FIRST COURT ORDER
Dana moved quickly.
Not magically.
Affidavits.
Recorded trust deed.
Frank’s statement.
Police report.
Locksmith records.
Emergency hearing.
Forty-eight hours later, a judge issued temporary possession order restoring us to the home while title claims were litigated.
Richard was ordered not to enter.
He objected.
His attorney argued the trust transfer itself might be fraudulent against a creditor.
Creditor:
Richard.
The court did not decide yet.
It preserved occupancy.
We went home with a locksmith.
New locks again.
This time mine.
Sophie stood in the foyer.
Did not move.
“What?”
“Grandpa was here.”
“Yes.”
“He touched my room?”
“I don’t think so.”
“You don’t know.”
No.
We searched together.
Nothing missing from her room.
Noah went straight to Mark’s office.
Desk empty.
He stared.
“Grandpa took Dad’s computer.”
“Police know.”
“What if he deleted it?”
“Dana says there are backups.”
“Where?”
I thought about the USB in Frank’s case.
“Safe.”
Noah nodded.
Then:
“Dad knew.”
“What?”
“He knew Grandpa would come here.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t he tell us?”
Again.
Mark’s final protection was also a final betrayal of trust.
I loved him.
May you like
I was furious with him.
Both.
