Chapter 7 - The Confession
Robert got out of his car, his eyes wide as he took in the scene. The police car. The locksmith drilling out the front door lock. His daughter screaming. His wife standing perfectly still. "What in the world is going on here?" Robert demanded, rushing over. "Dad! Tell them!" Madison screamed. "Tell them we live here! She's trying to throw us out!" Robert looked at me, a mix of panic and anger on his face. "Laura! Have you lost your mind? Calling the police on my children?" "They aren't children, Robert," I said. "They are squatters. And they are leaving." "I gave them permission!" Robert shouted at the officer. "I am the homeowner!" "Sir," the officer said firmly. "Your wife is also the homeowner. She has revoked permission. Unless you have a signed lease agreement with these people, they have to leave." "This is ridiculous!" Robert sputtered. "They're family! They're just trying to get back on their feet!" "Are they?" I asked. I turned to Evan. Evan was sweating. The bravado had completely melted off him in the presence of the police. "Evan," I said loudly, making sure the officer and Robert could hear every word. "Why don't you tell Robert about your plan? The one about staying for thirty days to establish tenancy so you couldn't be evicted?" Evan swallowed hard. He looked at the ground. Robert frowned. "What is she talking about?" "Tell him, Evan," I pushed. "Tell him about how you planned to make me miserable so I would move out. Tell him how you were going to convince him to refinance the house, pull out the equity, and pay off the massive lawsuit from the apartment you destroyed." Robert's face went completely white. "Lawsuit? What lawsuit?" Madison glared at Evan. "Shut up, Evan." But Evan was breaking. The police officer was staring him down, and Evan was a coward at heart. "We... we owe fifty thousand dollars in damages," Evan stammered, his voice trembling. "The landlord sued us. We're broke, Robert. We have absolutely nothing. Madison said you'd help us out if we could just get rid of Laura." Dead silence fell over the front lawn. The only sound was the high-pitched whir of the locksmith's drill. Robert stared at his daughter, his mouth hanging open. "You were going to force my wife out of her home? To steal my equity?" Madison crossed her arms, dropping the innocent daughter act entirely. "You owe me, Dad! You spent my whole inheritance on this stupid house and this stupid woman! It's supposed to be my money!" Robert stumbled back as if she had physically struck him.
