Chapter 4 - The Arrival of the Law
Headlights cut through the gloom as two marked King County Sheriff cruisers rolled slowly up the long gravel driveway, their blue and red lights flashing quietly against the pine trees.
Vanessa gasped, clutching her designer dress. "Did you call the police on your own family?!"
Two deputies stepped out of the vehicles, followed by Arthur Vance, who carried a briefcase. Deputy Sheriff Miller, a man who had known my husband for thirty years, tipped his hat to me.
"Good evening, Mrs. Briar," Miller said formally. "We’ve received the emergency trespass order and the formal revocation of tenancy for the property."
"Thank you, Deputy," I said. "Please inform these guests that the private event on this parcel has concluded, and escort Mr. and Mrs. Briar off the main grounds."
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Vanessa’s face transformed from cold condescension to absolute horror. The color drained from her cheeks so fast she looked ghost-like under the flashing red and blue lights. "You can't do this! We live here!"
"You stayed in my guesthouse as my guests," I corrected her coldly. "A courtesy that expired the second you threw my food into a dog bowl and called me the hired help. You have two hours to pack your personal belongings from the guesthouse. Tomorrow morning at nine, a formal moving crew will clear out the rest under legal supervision."
