Chapter 6 - The Siege of the Garage
The next morning, Daniel arrived at his garage, Mercer Heavy Duty, to find two city vehicles parked in his customer lot. A pair of inspectors in high-visibility vests were already writing on clipboards.
"Can I help you?" Daniel asked, stepping out of his truck.
"Daniel Mercer?" the lead inspector asked, not looking up. "We received an anonymous tip regarding improper disposal of hazardous waste and commercial oil runoff into the city sewer system. We’re issuing an immediate stop-work order pending a full environmental audit."
Daniel looked at the inspector’s badge. He knew how the city worked. An audit like this could take six months, effectively bankrupting his business before he could even defend himself.
"An anonymous tip?" Daniel said, stepping closer. "Or did Thomas Vance pay for your lunch today?"
The inspector flinched slightly, his eyes darting away. "We just follow the regulations, Mr. Mercer. You have forty-eight hours to clear the bay of all active customer vehicles, or we fine you ten thousand dollars a day."
Before Daniel could respond, his phone rang. It was Marcus.
"Daniel, you need to get back to the clinic," Marcus said, his voice tense with worry. "Two guys from the Department of Child and Family Services just showed up. They have an anonymous complaint about three unregistered, neglected children being held here. They’re threatening to bring the police to remove them."
"I’m on my way," Daniel said, his jaw set.
He turned to the inspectors. "Write your tickets. Put your tape up. But I’m not closing. And when this is over, I’m going to make sure your badges are melted down for scrap metal."
He jumped back into his truck and sped toward the clinic, the engine roaring. Thomas Vance was moving fast, trying to cut off his escape routes. But Thomas had made a fatal mistake: he underestimated how little Daniel cared about money, and how much he cared about family.
When Daniel arrived at the clinic, he found two social workers in the lobby, arguing with Marcus.
"We have a legal right to assess the safety of these minors, Dr. Vance," the lead social worker said.
"And I have a medical right to protect my patients," Marcus shot back. "The mother is under active treatment for a life-threatening illness. The children are not abandoned; they are with their uncle."
"Their uncle?" the social worker scoffed. "Who is their uncle?"
"I am," Daniel’s voice boomed as he walked through the clinic doors, his large frame filling the entryway. He produced a notary-sealed document he had prepared with his lawyer the previous evening—a temporary guardianship agreement signed by Sarah Mercer.
"This is a legal, temporary custody transfer," Daniel said, handing the paper to the social worker. "I have full custody of Lucy, Leo, and Toby while their mother is hospitalized. Their housing is secure—they are living with me at my residence. Here is my address, my business license, and my background check. Now, unless you have a warrant signed by a federal judge, get out of my friend's clinic."
The social workers reviewed the document, their expressions turning sour. With a temporary guardianship in place and no immediate signs of abuse under Daniel’s care, they had no legal ground to stand on.
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"We will be conducting a home visit, Mr. Mercer," the lead worker warned.
"I’ll have coffee waiting," Daniel replied.
