New Locks on the Door by Morning
Detective Harris ordered both Eleanor and Audrey to turn around and place their hands behind their backs. Audrey began screaming as the handcuffs clicked shut around her wrists.
“You cannot arrest me! I live here, this is my home!”
“Not anymore, it isn’t,” Naomi said calmly.
She handed both women formal written notices ending their occupancy agreement immediately. The original agreement had specifically allowed for immediate removal in cases involving violence, criminal activity, or any danger posed to a child in the household.
A locksmith who had been waiting outside in his truck came inside and began installing new locks on every exterior door. Two officers stood watch while Eleanor and Audrey were permitted to gather a few changes of clothing, their medications, and personal identification documents.
Eleanor paused near the staircase on her way out, staring silently at the family portraits still hanging on the wall.
“You owe me this house, Lucas.”
“I gave you safety here,” I said. “You turned it into a prison for someone who couldn’t fight back against you.”
She lowered her voice to something quieter. “Drop the charges against us, and I’ll find a way to forgive you for all of this.”
For the first time all night, I very nearly laughed out loud at that.
What My Grandfather’s Trust Actually Said
Naomi opened a second sealed envelope. My grandfather’s original trust had included conditional inheritances set aside specifically for both Eleanor and Audrey. They could only actually receive their respective shares if they avoided any felony convictions and refrained from financial abuse directed at any other named beneficiary of the trust.
