Chapter 8 - The Price Of Greed
""Your porch?"" Diane’s voice broke into a high, hysterical screech that shattered the morning silence. ""Are you insane? This is Bennett Point! This house belonged to my father, Thomas Bennett! It has been in our family for over forty years! You lost this land in nineteen-eighty-two, Arthur! You lost it!""
Arthur Vance didn't even blink. He reached inside his charcoal wool coat, pulled out a pair of gold-rimmed reading glasses, and gestured slightly to the deputy beside him.
The second deputy stepped forward, holding up a certified, embossed document with the official red seal of the State of Idaho clearly visible across the front cover.
""Diane Miller,"" the deputy announced in a formal, loud voice that resonated across the entire driveway. ""I am serving you with an immediate, non-judicial Writ of Possession and Vacate Order issued by the First Judicial District Court of Kootenai County. As of six o'clock this morning, this property is the sole, unencumbered freehold asset of Vance Shoreline Conservancy, LLC.""
""That's a lie!"" Mark roared, pushing his way onto the porch in his sweatpants and bare feet. ""The house belongs to Claire Bennett! Her name is on the deed! We know the law—you can't buy a house without a sixty-day closing process and an inspection period!""
""Mr. Miller,"" Marcus Cole spoke up, his voice dangerously calm as he stepped directly between Mark and the elderly billionaire. ""Miss Claire Bennett executed an expedited cash conveyance agreement on Saturday morning at nine seventeen. The funds were disbursed, the title was recorded, and the closing conditions included an unconditional immediate occupancy waiver. Miss Bennett relinquished all legal rights, claims, and responsibilities regarding this parcel forty-eight hours ago.""
""She... she sold it?"" Kayla wailed from the doorway, her hands flying to her cheeks. ""She sold our lake house? Without telling us?""
""She didn't sell your lake house, young lady,"" Arthur Vance said, turning his piercing gaze toward Kayla. ""She sold her lake house. The house she spent sixty-seven thousand dollars restoring while you used it as a private campground. The house whose property taxes she paid alone while your mother told her friends that she owned the shoreline.""
""She can't do that!"" Diane shrieked, lunging forward with her hands clawed. ""I am her mother! I have an equitable interest in this estate! My father promised me this land on his deathbed!""
The lead deputy instantly raised a hand, stepping directly into Diane's path. ""Ma'am, keep your hands to yourself or you will be placed in restraints immediately. There is no equitable interest. We have reviewed the Bennett family trust records dating back to nineteen-ninety-four. Your father explicitly disinherited you from this parcel to prevent your creditors from attaching liens to the property. Miss Claire Bennett was the sole owner. She had the absolute legal right to sell, gift, or burn this house to the ground if she so chose.""
""Call her!"" Diane screamed, turning toward Mark. ""Mark, get your phone! Call Claire right now! Tell her to cancel the contract! Tell her I'll give her the master bedroom! Tell her she can stay whenever she wants!""
""The contract is closed, Diane,"" Arthur Vance said, his voice dropping into a tone of chilling finality. ""The money has cleared. One million, four hundred thousand dollars is sitting in your daughter's private trust account. She is currently having breakfast in Spokane, entirely free of your financial parasites.""
""One point four million?"" Mark repeated, the color completely draining from his face as his jaw went slack. ""She got one point four million dollars?""
""And you have exactly twenty minutes to clear your personal belongings from the structure,"" Marcus Cole announced, checking his tactical watch. ""At twelve hundred hours, my security perimeter goes active. Anyone remaining inside the yellow tape will be taken into custody for felony criminal trespass.""
Behind Arthur, the heavy diesel engine of the Peterbilt flatbed roared to life. A massive hydraulic arm swung into position, dropping an empty, hollow steel dumpster onto the gravel with a deafening CRASH that sent the morning birds scattering from the pines.
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""Twenty minutes?"" Kayla cried, bursting into tears as her children began wailing in terror. ""All our clothes are inside! The kids' toys! The food in the fridge!""
""Then I suggest you start carrying boxes,"" Arthur Vance said, turning his back on them and walking slowly down the porch stairs toward his SUV. ""Because at twelve-oh-one, the excavator begins tearing the roof off."""
