Chapter 7 - The Eviction of the Wolves
The phone clicked dead, leaving Daniel staring into the black screen with the vacant expression of a condemned man.
Before he could take another breath, the heavy gravel on the driveway crunched under the weight of three black Chevrolet Suburbans.
The vehicles came to a synchronized halt outside the stone porch, their doors opening to reveal six uniformed private security officers and a county sheriff’s deputy.
The deputy walked up the cedar steps, carrying a thick legal folio stamped with the official seal of the Grand Traverse County Circuit Court.
Rachel emerged from the master suite carrying her designer overnight bag, her face pale, dressed in jeans and a dark trench coat.
She took one look at the sheriff’s uniform through the front window and set her bag down by the door, completely resigned to the collapse.
"Daniel Mercer?" the deputy asked, stepping through the screen door without taking off his hat.
"Deputy Miller," Daniel stammered, holding up both hands.
"There's been a catastrophic legal misunderstanding with my wife’s family trust. I am the co-owner of this property!"
"Not according to the expedited deed conveyance filed in Traverse City at eight o'clock this morning, sir," Deputy Miller stated flatly.
He handed a red-stamped court order directly to Daniel’s trembling chest.
"The property known as Torch Lake Retreat is held exclusively by the Arthur Vance Environmental Foundation, under the direct stewardship of Mrs. Claire Vance."
"An emergency order of trespass has been issued against you and all unauthorized guests."
"Trespass?!" Daniel yelled, his voice cracking into shrill hysteria.
"I built that dock with my own hands! I put sixty thousand dollars into the stone fireplace!"
"You put that money in using funds from Claire’s personal savings account, Daniel," Rachel said from behind him, her voice quiet and filled with absolute scorn.
Daniel spun around, his eyes wild with fury.
"Shut up, Rachel! You don't know anything about our marriage!"
"I know that you're a liar, a thief, and a coward who used me to steal from his own children," Rachel replied, looking him dead in the eyes.
She turned to the deputy, lifting her small leather bag.
"Officer, where can I catch the local shuttle to the airport?"
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"My patrol vehicle can drop you at the regional depot in Elk Rapids, ma'am," the deputy replied with professional courtesy.
"Thank you," Rachel murmured, walking past Daniel without a single glance back, leaving the master suite she had thought was hers forever.
