Chapter 3 - The Attorney’s Arrival
Just as Patricia was about to scream at the officer again,
a sleek black sedan pulled up behind my car.
The door opened,
and Victoria Hayes stepped out,
looking as sharp and lethal as a diamond-tipped spear.
She held a leather briefcase in one hand and a stack of folders in the other,
her presence instantly shifting the energy of the entire street.
Victoria was the kind of attorney who didn't raise her voice,
because she knew the law spoke loudly enough on her behalf.
She walked toward the group,
the click of her heels on the pavement sounding like a death knell for Patricia's plans.
"Good afternoon,
everyone,"
Victoria said,
her voice cool and professional.
"I believe there is some confusion regarding the occupancy of this property."
Patricia scoffed,
crossing her arms over her chest.
"There's no confusion,
dear.
I’m Ryan’s mother,
and this is his house.
The divorce is over,
and we are here to claim his half of the estate."
Victoria didn't even look at Patricia;
instead,
she handed a folder to Sergeant Miller.
"Officer,
if you would please look at Page 4,
Section B of the final decree signed this morning."
The Sergeant opened the folder,
his eyes scanning the legal text as the silence grew heavy.
Vanessa moved closer with her phone,
trying to capture the documents,
but Victoria subtly shifted her body to block the view.
"As you will see,"
Victoria continued,
"the court has ruled that the property at 1242 Harbor Road is,
and has always been,
a non-marital asset."
"That's a lie!"
Ryan shouted,
finally finding his voice,
though it cracked with desperation.
"We lived there together!
I put work into that place!"
Victoria finally turned her gaze toward Ryan,
her eyes narrowing slightly.
"The only 'work' you put in,
Mr. Montgomery,
was changing the password on the Wi-Fi.
The court found that you purposefully misled your family and creditors about the ownership of this home."
She then turned back to the Sergeant.
"Furthermore,
there is a restraining order in effect,
as of two hours ago,
preventing Ryan Montgomery or any of his associates from coming within 500 feet of this gate."
The blood drained from Patricia’s face,
turning her complexion to a sickly shade of grey.
"A restraining order?"
she whispered,
her voice trembling with rage.
"You can't do that.
This is an outrage!"
"I can,
and I did,"
Victoria replied,
pulling out another sheet of paper.
"And since you have brought moving trucks to attempt a forced entry,
you are currently in violation of that order."
I watched as the Sergeant’s expression changed from weary to stern.
He looked at the trucks,
then at the Montgomery family,
and finally at me.
"Is this true,
Counselor?"
he asked,
though he already knew the answer.
"Every word,"
Victoria said.
"And if they don't vacate the street in the next five minutes,
I will be asking you to take them into custody for trespassing and contempt of court."
May you like
The crowd of neighbors began to whisper,
their eyes glued to the spectacle of the great Montgomery family being dismantled by a woman in a power suit.
