Chapter 4 - The Intercepted Call
Olivia snatched the paper from Dad’s hand, her eyes darting across the legal jargon printed in bold, uncompromising typeface.
“Trespassers? That’s impossible!” Olivia shrieked, her voice pitching up in hysteria. “Dad told us we owned this house! He said Commander-in-Hiding gave it up voluntarily!”
“She’s bluffing,” Dad insisted, though his hands were shaking as he tried to refold the paper. “It’s just a scare tactic. She’s trying to intimidate us because she’s bitter about losing her career momentum. Ethan! Call our family attorney right now!”
David fumbled with his phone, dialing a number with jittery fingers while pacing back and forth across the dark living room. The phone rang three times before a tired, professional voice picked up on the other end.
“This is Edward Vance, legal counsel. State your emergency.”
“Edward, thank god,” David blurted out, putting the phone on speaker so the entire family could hear. “We’re at the Lake Tahoe property—the villa gifted to us by Mr. Hayes—and some local attorney just dropped a bogus trespass notice on the porch. We need an injunction filed against Commander Hayes immediately.”
Silence hung on the line for several long seconds.
“Mr. David,” Edward’s voice came back, cold and entirely devoid of warmth. “Did you say Commander Hayes gifted you that property?”
May you like
“Yes! Well, her father did,” David corrected quickly.
“Then I suggest you pack your bags and leave the premises within the hour,” the attorney replied sharply. “I just received a federal title audit file from naval legal services. Arthur Hayes never held the deed. The property has been under an irrevocable military trust held exclusively by Commander Hayes since the day it was built. If you are inside that house when the county sheriff executes the writ of possession tomorrow morning, you will be arrested for felony breaking and entering.”
