Chapter 3 - THE ARRIVAL OF THE WRIT OF EVICTIONBy noon, Daniel was driving back to his suburban house, his hands trembling so violently on the steering wheel he could barely keep the car in its lane. He hadn't gone to work. He didn't care about his paycheck anymore. The three million dollars—the golden ticket that was supposed
He pulled into the driveway and slammed the car door shut, storming up the steps. As he reached for his front door key, he noticed a thick, bright orange legal notice taped directly to the wood of the front door.
He ripped it off, his eyes scanning the bold black type.
NOTICE OF TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER AND EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY POSSESSION. IN THE MATTER OF: CARTER V. CARTER. RESPONDENT: DANIEL CARTER. PETITIONER: MAYA CARTER.
“The respondent, Daniel Carter, is hereby ordered to vacate the primary marital residence located at 1422 Elmwood Avenue within twenty-four (24) hours of service. Any attempt to contact the petitioner, enter the premises, or dissipate marital and separate lottery assets will result in immediate felony arrest for contempt of court and violation of domestic abuse protective orders.”
“No!” Daniel screamed, crumpling the paper in his fist and hurling it across the lawn. “This is my house! My name is on the deed!”
“Well, actually, son, your name is on a lot of things that are about to vanish into thin air.”
Daniel whipped around. Lorna’s silver sedan had just pulled up to the curb. She stepped out of her car, her expensive perfume trailing behind her, her face twisted in a mask of absolute panic and fury. She slammed her car door and marched up the walkway.
“Did you talk to the bank? Did you fix it?” Lorna demanded, her voice shrill. “I just tried to use my credit card at the grocery store and it was declined! They told me my supplementary line tied to your household was canceled!”
“Mom, it’s a disaster,” Daniel groaned, running his hands through his hair. “Maya... Maya filed a complete legal injunction. She locked all the accounts, she froze our credit, and she’s trying to kick me out of the house!”
Lorna’s eyes flared with venom. “Kick you out? Of the house we helped you buy? That ungrateful little parasite! Where is she right now?”
“She’s still in the hospital, recovering from her leg surgery,” Daniel said, panic rising in his throat. “Mom, what are we going to do? My truck payment is due tomorrow, your mortgage is past due, and my paycheck is locked in a frozen account! Without that three million, we are completely ruined!”
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Lorna pressed her lips into a thin, hard line, her mind racing through her usual arsenal of manipulation and control.
“She thinks she can outsmart us?” Lorna hissed, her voice dropping into a dangerous register. “She’s alone, she’s trapped in a hospital bed, and she’s physically incapacitated. We are going to go down to that hospital right now, Daniel. We are going to make her realize that she cannot survive without this family. And if she refuses to sign those asset transfers over to us voluntarily... well, let’s just say accidents happen to people in hospitals all the time.”
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