Chapter 3 - THE UNWELCOME GUESTSThe screen door banged open, and Jessica strutted back into the kitchen, her mother trailing closely behind her like a guard dog scenting blood. The brief panic on Jessica's face had completely vanished, replaced by her usual arrogant, entitled sneer. She crossed her arms, leaning against the doorframe.
"Alright, Daniel, playtime is over," Jessica snapped, her voice sharp and demanding. "You can march in here with your big-city attitude, acting like a hero, but let's get one thing straight: We run this household now."
I didn't turn around immediately. I stood by the counter, slowly pouring a glass of water, letting the tension build in the room.
"Is that so?" I asked casually, taking a slow sip.
"Damn right it is," Susan chimed in, stepping forward. "You think you can just show up and disrupt our lives? This house is legally under our control. We have the papers signed by your own parents, granting full guardianship and asset management to Jessica. If you don't like it, you can pack your bags, get back in your cheap truck, and drive your miserable self back to Chicago."
Martha shrank back in her chair, trembling, while Arthur clenched his fists under the table.
I set the glass down with a sharp clank that made both women jump. I turned around slowly, walking toward them until I was standing just inches away. Jessica instinctively leaned back, her nostrils flaring as she tried to maintain her defiant facade.
"Papers?" I asked, my voice dangerously low. "You mean the fraudulent power of attorney you tricked two vulnerable seniors into signing while they were grieving their eldest son?"
Jessica’s eyes flickered with a sudden, nervous dart to the side, but she recovered quickly. "Fraudulent? Prove it! A licensed attorney drafted those documents. They are legally binding in the state of Illinois. Your parents signed them of sound mind—or at least, mostly of sound mind."
"Let's test that theory," I said smoothly, pulling my phone out. "Let's call Marcus right now. Let's ask him how he feels about forging witness signatures on a document where the notary seal belongs to a suspended notary two counties over."
The color drained entirely from Jessica’s face. For a split second, her mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. She hadn't expected me to dig into the legal specifics within five minutes of walking through the door.
"You're... you're bluffing," Jessica stammered, though her voice lacked its earlier bite.
"Am I?" I smiled, dialing a number on speakerphone and placing it right on the kitchen table.
The phone rang once. Twice. Three times.
On the other end, a gruff, professional voice answered. "Law Offices of Marcus Vance. How may I direct your call?"
Jessica lunged forward, trying to grab the phone, but I sidestepped effortlessly and held it out of her reach.
"Hello, Marcus," I said into the speaker, my tone razor-sharp. "This is Daniel Vance. We need to talk about the property deed at 404 Willow Creek Lane, and the fraudulent power of attorney you drew up for my parents under duress."
A heavy, dead silence stretched across the line.
"Mr... Mr. Vance," Marcus stuttered, his professional composure instantly evaporating. "I think there has been some misunderstanding—"
"There is no misunderstanding," I interrupted coldly. "You have twenty-four hours to bring every single document, every financial statement, and every piece of fraudulent paperwork to this house, or I will personally file criminal charges for elder abuse, fraud, and extortion with the state prosecutor. Do you understand me?"
May you like
Before Marcus could answer, I hung up the phone and tossed it onto the table.
The kitchen was dead silent. Susan looked at Jessica in sheer horror, realizing the house of cards they had built over the last three years was collapsing in real-time.
