Chapter 5 - The Notice to Vacate
On Thursday afternoon, the sun shone brightly over the manicured lawns of Ridgecrest Drive.
A sleek black SUV pulled up to the curb outside the red-brick house, followed immediately by two marked Wake County Sheriff’s cruisers.
I stepped out of the passenger seat wearing a dark navy wool suit, flanked by Sarah Jenkins, Detective Robert Miller from the Financial Crimes Unit, and two armed deputies.
The red-brick house looked desolate. The blinds were pulled tight, a noisy portable generator rattled on the side patio, spewing exhaust into the air, and three plastic trash bags filled with fast-food wrappers sat near the front porch.
Deputy Davis walked up the stone steps and pounded his heavy fist against the front oak door.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
"Sheriff's Office! Open the door!"
A minute later, the front door unlocked and opened three inches. Eric peeked out, his hair messy, his beard unkempt, wearing a wrinkled t-shirt. When he saw me standing on the walkway alongside two uniformed officers and a detective, his face turned an instant shade of ash gray.
"Laura?!" Eric stammered, his voice hoarse. "What... what are you doing here with the police?!"
Behind him, Diane pushed the door wide open, wearing an old sweater, her face contorted in furious rage. "How dare you show your face here, Laura?! You left us in the dark! My grandchildren are sleeping on air mattresses! You are a monster!"
"Step out onto the porch, Mr. Mitchell, Mrs. Mitchell," Detective Miller commanded, his hand resting calmly near his belt.
"We aren't stepping anywhere!" Diane shouted, her voice echoing down the quiet street. "This is my son's house! He is married to this woman! She has a legal duty to support her family!"
Sarah Jenkins stepped forward, pulling a red-stamped court document from her briefcase.
"Diane Mitchell, Eric Mitchell," Sarah announced in a clear, resonant voice. "I am serving you with an Emergency Order of Protection, an Immediate Writ of Possession issued by Judge Katherine Mercer, and an Emergency Notice to Vacate. You have fifteen minutes to gather your personal clothing and exit these premises."
"Fifteen minutes?!" Eric screamed, his voice cracking hysterically. "Are you insane?! We have nowhere to go! Melissa’s kids are inside!"
"You should have thought about that before you forged my client’s name on a $120,000 mortgage instrument, Mr. Mitchell," Sarah replied coldly.
Diane’s eyes bulged in pure, unadulterated shock. She looked at Eric, then looked at Detective Miller. "What... what $120,000?! Eric... what is she talking about?!"
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Eric swallowed hard, taking two steps backward into the foyer, his hands trembling violently. "Mom... don't say anything..."
"It's too late for silence, Eric," Detective Miller said, pulling a pair of heavy steel handcuffs from his tactical belt. "We aren't just here to serve an eviction order."
