Chapter 6 - The Eviction Notice
Colin signaled to two burly men he had hired from a private regional security firm to guard the gate. “Remove this woman immediately. She is trespassing on private property subject to pending litigation.”
Before the guards could take two steps toward me, Dana Reeves stepped forward, snapping open her leather portfolio.
“Step back,” Dana commanded with the booming voice of a veteran courtroom litigator. She held up an embossed document stamped with the blue seal of the Warren County Supreme Court. “I am Dana Reeves, sole legal trustee of the Samuel Vance Legacy Trust. I am serving an immediate Emergency Restraining Order and Summary Eviction Notice under Index Number 2024-8841, signed two hours ago by the Honorable Judge Peter Halloran.”
The two private guards stopped dead in their tracks, looking between Colin and the court seal.
“That’s impossible!” Colin shouted, his composure shattering. “We have an emergency hearing set for Monday morning! Bradley Vance filed the motion!”
“And Judge Halloran reviewed your attorney’s motion alongside our emergency filing at five o’clock this afternoon,” Dana replied smoothly, her voice carrying across the entire silent patio. “When Her Honor examined the certified deed of Whispering Pines, she noted what your incompetent counsel failed to research: Article Fourteen of the trust indenture.”
Judith shoved her way past two mortified socialites, her face contorted in fury. “Article Fourteen is a bluff! Colin is her husband! He has marital rights to this house!”
“Colin has no rights to this house, Judith,” I said, looking her directly in the eyes. “And neither do you.”
Dana turned to the crowd, raising her voice so every prominent banker, investor, and town official could hear every single syllable.
“Article Fourteen of the Samuel Vance Trust clearly dictates that any attempt by a non-beneficiary spouse or his relations to seize, occupy, or force a sale of Whispering Pines through fraud, physical coercion, or bad faith constitutes an automatic and immediate forfeiture of all spousal claims under New York Domestic Relations Law. Furthermore, unauthorized occupancy triggers a contractual liquidated damage fee of five thousand dollars per calendar day, payable directly to the Vance Trust.”
Dana pulled a second document from her folder and thrust it into Colin’s chest.
“You and your mother have occupied this property without authorization for ninety-six hours. You have unlawfully converted eighty-five thousand dollars worth of antique furnishings into an unheated garage. You have spent thirty-two thousand dollars of stolen marital funds on caterers and party rentals. As of seven o’clock tonight, the Vance Trust has placed an emergency lien against your consulting firm’s bank accounts, your vehicle, and your mother’s residential condo in Saratoga.”
“This is an outrage!” Judith shrieked, her voice reaching a shrill, hysterical pitch. “You can’t do this to us! I am Judith Mercer! We belong here! Colin, do something! Call the police!”
I smiled softly. “You don’t need to call them, Judith.”
May you like
From the end of the long pine-lined driveway, the flashing red and blue lights of three county sheriff cruisers cut through the dusk, their sirens blaring as they turned onto the lawn.
***
