Chapter 5 - The Uninvited Subtenants
As the diesel engine of the moving truck roared to life, a silver sedan pulled up the driveway, followed closely by a ride-share vehicle.
Three strangers climbed out, holding printed copies of the classified ads Marcus had forwarded to my phone an hour earlier.
A young professional woman in medical scrubs approached the porch, looking around at the chaotic scene with growing concern.
"Hello? Is this the Vance residence? I'm here to meet Derek regarding the executive suite move-in."
Derek froze, his hands trembling as he shoved his car keys into his pockets, trying to slip behind his mother's shoulder.
"Derek?" the woman repeated, noticing his face from his online profile photo.
"I transferred you twelve hundred dollars via wire transfer this morning for the first month's rent. You said the master bedroom was vacant!"
A second man, carrying two large duffel bags, walked up the steps with an aggressive scowl on his face.
"Yeah, I sent him fourteen hundred for the garden-level suite. What the hell is going on here?"
I stepped down the stone stairs, standing directly between the furious renters and my cowering brother.
"I am Evelyn Vance, the sole legal owner of this home," I told them gently but firmly.
"My brother, Derek Parker, does not reside here, has no power of attorney, and has executed a fraudulent rental scam using my personal residence."
The young nurse’s jaw dropped in absolute horror.
"He scammed us? That was my entire security deposit for my residency program!"
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"Call the police right now!" the second man yelled, pulling out his smartphone and pointing an accusing finger at Derek.
"This bastard took my money and left me stranded with my bags on the street!"
