Chapter 2
Margaret screamed.
Vanessa jumped back, as if I might throw something else.
Todd stood up from the couch, his face red.
"You can't just—"
"This is my house. The deed is in my name. I want you gone in thirty minutes. Or I call the police."
Daniel stepped forward.
"Claire, this is insane. You threw water on my mother!"
"Your mother demanded I kneel and wash her feet. In my own home. While she and your sister were applying for a three-quarter-million-dollar loan against my property."
Daniel's face went white.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
I pulled out my phone and showed him the bank alerts.
He stared at them.
"I didn't—this isn't—"
"Save it. All of you. Thirty minutes."
I walked to the kitchen and picked up my phone.
I called my lawyer. Her name was Patricia Vance. She had written my prenup.
"Claire? It's Sunday."
"I need you. Now. My in-laws just tried to take out a $750,000 HELOC on my house. I never signed anything. And my husband is standing in my living room pretending he doesn't know about it."
Patricia was quiet for two seconds.
"I'm calling the bank. I'm freezing that application. I'm calling a forensic accountant. And I'm coming over. Do not sign anything. Do not let them take anything. Do not let them leave with documents."
"Got it."
I hung up.
When I walked back into the living room, Margaret was dripping on my rug, yelling into her phone.
"Yes, she attacked me! She threw water on me! I want her arrested!"
I looked at Daniel.
"She's calling the police?"
"She's upset, Claire. You threw water on her."
"She committed fraud. Which is worse?"
He didn't answer.
Twenty minutes later, two police officers arrived.
Margaret ran to them, sobbing, pointing at me.
"She assaulted me! She's violent! She needs to be removed!"
One officer looked at me.
"Ma'am, is this your residence?"
"Yes. I own it. Deed in my name. These people are my in-laws. They've been staying here. I want them removed. And I'm reporting fraud—they attempted to take out a loan against my property without my consent."
The officer's expression changed.
"Fraud? You have proof?"
I showed him the bank alerts.
He radioed for a detective.
Margaret stopped crying.
Vanessa looked at Todd.
Todd looked at the door.
And Daniel?
Daniel looked at his feet.
The detective arrived forty minutes later. He took one look at the bank alerts, the deed, and the soaked woman screaming on my couch.
"Everyone except Ms. Bennett," he said, "needs to leave this property. Now. We'll be in touch."
Margaret started arguing.
The officer stepped forward.
"Ma'am, you can leave voluntarily, or you can leave in handcuffs for trespassing. Your choice."
They left.
All four of them. Suitcases and all.
I stood in my doorway and watched them pile into Vanessa's car.
Daniel looked back at me.
"Claire, please. We can talk about this."
"Don't come back, Daniel."
I closed the door.
I locked it.
And I slid down against it, my heart pounding.
They had tried to steal my house.
May you like
My husband had let them.
And I had just thrown them out.
