Chapter 3 - The Counterattack
The next morning, at precisely 6:30 AM, three vehicles pulled up to the gates of the estate.
David Vance stepped out of the lead sedan, wearing a sharp gray suit, flanked by a female attorney named Eleanor, two forensic accountants carrying heavy laptops, and Deputy Sheriff Miller—a veteran officer I had known since high school.
I opened the gates and welcomed them into the study.
For two hours, the accountants swept through the financial records, cross-referencing my international bank transfer receipts with Gertrude's bank statements and Prudence's credit card bills. Eleanor meticulously examined the forged power of attorney document under a magnifying glass, taking high-resolution photographs of the fake signatures.
Meanwhile, Deputy Sheriff Miller conducted a formal walk-through of the filthy service kitchen behind the house. He took photographs of the cracked linoleum, the spoiled food, the single bucket used as a washbasin, and the thin, moldy pillow Sarah and Jamie had been forced to sleep on.
Miller walked back into the study, his jaw set in a hard, angry line.
"Arthur," Miller said, his voice deep with disgust. "I've been a deputy for twenty years. What I just saw out back... that isn't just family drama. That is felony child neglect, elder-on-dependent abuse, and illegal confinement. If you press charges, I can issue arrest warrants by noon."
"Press them," I said without a second of hesitation. "Every single one."
"Arthur, wait," David interrupted, laying a hand on my shoulder. "We need to play this smart. If we just arrest them now, Gertrude’s lawyer will push for bail, and they might try to liquidate the hidden assets or flee the state. Let me file an emergency freeze on all bank accounts associated with Gertrude and Prudence first. We cut off their money, take away their leverage, and then let the law crush them."
"How long will the freeze take?" I asked.
"Two hours," Eleanor said, closing her laptop. "I have a judge on standby for an emergency ex parte hearing based on these forged documents. By ten o'clock, every credit card, bank account, and vehicle lease under their names will be rendered useless."
Before we could finalize the paperwork, the front doorbell rang loudly, echoing through the empty halls.
I walked to the front door, with David and Deputy Miller following closely behind.
I opened the heavy oak door. Standing on the porch was not Gertrude or Prudence, but a sleek, tall man in a five-thousand-dollar suit, holding a leather briefcase. Behind him stood Prudence, wearing dark sunglasses to hide her swollen, tear-stained eyes, accompanied by a burly man in a leather jacket who looked like a private security guard.
"Can I help you?" I asked coldly.
The sleek man adjusted his silk tie and offered a cold, professional smile. "Arthur Vance? I am Richard Montgomery, senior partner at Montgomery & Associates. I represent your mother, Gertrude Vance, and your sister, Prudence."
"They sent a lawyer," I said, chuckling darkly. "Using my money to pay his retainer, no doubt."
"Mr. Vance, let's be reasonable adults here," Montgomery said, stepping forward onto the threshold. "My clients acknowledge that there may have been... miscommunications regarding domestic arrangements during your absence overseas. However, Gertrude Vance is the legal co-owner of this property according to public records—"
"Public records based on a forged power of attorney," David Vance interjected, stepping out from behind me and flashing his legal credentials. "Richard, good to see you. I suggest you check your email before you speak another word on behalf of your clients."
Montgomery’s smile faltered slightly. He pulled out his smartphone, tapped the screen, and read the notification that had just arrived.
I watched the color drain from Montgomery's face, exactly as it had drained from my mother's face the night before.
"An emergency injunction?" Montgomery muttered, his eyes darting frantically across his screen. "An asset freeze? David, you can't do this without a full hearing—"
"The judge disagreed, Richard," David said smoothly. "Given the overwhelming physical evidence of felony child abuse, financial fraud, and forgery, the court has frozen all accounts under Gertrude and Prudence Vance's names. In fact, Richard, if you took a retainer from them within the last twelve hours, those funds are currently frozen as part of a grand larceny investigation."
Montgomery turned sharply toward Prudence. "Is this true? Did you pay my retainer using funds from the joint account?"
Prudence panicked, backing away toward her security guard. "I... I used the credit card! The one Mother gave me!"
"Which is tied to Arthur's transfers," David finished cleanly. "You're working for free today, Richard."
Montgomery snapped his briefcase shut, looking at Prudence with pure disdain. "Miss Vance, our retainer agreement is terminated immediately. Do not call my office again until you have liquid, legitimate capital."
"Wait! Mr. Montgomery! You can't just leave us!" Prudence screamed as her high-priced lawyer turned on his heel and hurried down the driveway to his Mercedes.
Prudence was left standing on the porch, trembling, broke, and stripped of her legal shield.
She looked at me, her eyes filled with desperate, hysterical tears. "Arthur... please! Mother is in the hospital! She had a panic attack last night! She’s fifty-four! Her heart can't take this! Please, just unfreeze the accounts! We'll give you the house! We'll leave you alone!"
I stepped down onto the porch, towering over her.
"Where is she?" I asked.
"St. Jude’s Memorial," Prudence sobbed. "Room 412. Please, Arthur... go see her. She's your mother!"
May you like
I looked at Deputy Miller, then at David.
"Let's go visit my mother," I said quietly. "It's time to end this drama once and for all."
