Chapter 6 - The Locked Glass Doors
At 8:15 PM, the storm reached its peak over downtown Austin. Water rushed through the gutters in torrents, washing away garbage and reflecting the bright neon lights of the city.
A yellow cab pulled up violently against the curb outside the 4th Street high-rise. Chloe, Eric, and their mountain of wet luggage spilled out onto the sidewalk. Eric threw a crumpled bill at the driver, screaming obscenities as the cab sped off, splashing muddy puddle water all over Chloe’s designer travel pants.
""Help me with these bags, Eric!"" Chloe cried, her soaked yellow dress clinging miserably to her body, her mascara running down her cheeks like soot. ""Hurry up! It’s freezing!""
They dragged four oversized Samsonite suitcases through the driving rain and rushed toward the revolving glass doors of the luxury building. But when Eric pushed against the heavy glass, it didn't budge. The outer access panel had been locked.
Eric pounded his fist against the tempered glass. ""Arthur! Hey! Open the damn door! Arthur!""
Inside the warm, softly lit lobby, Arthur sat behind his desk. He looked up, took a slow sip from his ceramic mug, picked up a clipboard, and walked casually toward the glass doors. He didn't unlock them. He stood on the dry, marble side of the glass, looking at Eric through the rain-streaked panel.
""Arthur! Unlock the door!"" Eric yelled, his voice muffled by the thick acoustic glass. ""We live here! Unit 14B! Let us in!""
Arthur pressed the intercom button on the wall. His calm, baritone voice echoed through the exterior speaker above their heads. ""Good evening, Mr. Miller. As you can see from the legal notice posted directly to the right of your head, your occupancy rights for Unit 14B have been legally revoked by the property owner, Mrs. Natalie Brooks.""
Chloe shoved Eric aside, pressing her face against the glass like a desperate animal. ""Arthur, please! It’s Chloe! Natalie is having a mental breakdown because her son died! She doesn't know what she’s doing! Let us up to our apartment right now so we can change clothes! We’ve been traveling all day!""
""Mrs. Miller,"" Arthur replied smoothly, his expression completely blank, ""I have been provided with certified copies of the eviction order, the non-trespass injunction signed by Judge Reynolds, and explicit written instructions from legal counsel. Unit 14B is no longer your residence. Your personal belongings have been secured at Buda Mini Storage, Unit 412. The access key is held at the county sheriff's department.""
""WHAT?!"" Eric screamed, kicking the bottom of the glass frame with his expensive Italian loafer. ""MY WATCHES ARE IN THAT PENTHOUSE! MY LAPTOP! YOU CAN'T DO THIS! CALL THE POLICE!""
""I already have, Mr. Miller,"" Arthur said calmly, pointing toward the end of the block.
Right on cue, the flashing red and blue lights of an Austin Police Department patrol car cut through the rain. The cruiser pulled up directly behind Chloe’s luggage, the siren giving a short, sharp whoop.
Two officers stepped out into the rain, their hands resting comfortably near their duty belts. ""Is there a problem here?"" the taller officer asked, stepping onto the curb.
""Officer! Thank God!"" Chloe cried, rushing toward him with open arms. ""This building manager is locking us out of our own home! My crazy sister stole our apartment while we were out of town! Arrest him! Make him let us in!""
The officer looked at the bright yellow notice taped to the glass, then pulled a small notebook from his pocket. ""Are you Eric Miller and Chloe Miller?""
""Yes! Yes, that’s us!"" Eric shouted, wiping water from his eyes. ""We live in 14B!""
""Not according to the county clerk's filing from Friday afternoon,"" the officer said, shining a flashlight onto the laminated sheet. ""Mrs. Natalie Brooks is the sole legal owner. The trespass warning is active and verified in our dispatch database. You were served notice via certified delivery and public posting. You have zero legal right to enter this private structure.""
""This is private property?!"" Chloe screeched in disbelief. ""We’ve lived here three years! We don't have anywhere else to go! Our clothes are in boxes! My parents’ house is an hour away in Round Rock and they don't even have a car to come get us!""
""Then I suggest you call another cab and book a hotel room, ma'am,"" the officer replied, his voice deadpan and unyielding. ""Because if you kick that glass door one more time, or refuse to clear the sidewalk, I’m taking you both down to Travis County Jail for criminal mischief and disorderly conduct. You have five minutes to load these bags and leave the premises.""
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Eric looked at the officer’s stern face, then looked at Arthur, who was standing behind the glass with folded arms, offering a slight, dismissive nod.
Chloe collapsed onto one of her wet suitcases, burying her face in her hands, sobbing uncontrollably. The rain soaked through her luggage, ruining the silk dresses, the souvenirs, and the cheap plastic memories of a vacation that had just cost them everything.
