“Why?”
“THE BANK HAS FROZEN THE DISPUTED ACCOUNT! AND THE MORTGAGE COMPANY IS INVESTIGATING ME!”
I looked out the window.
“That sounds serious.”
“STOP PLAYING GAMES! WHO DID YOU CONTACT?”
“My attorney.”
For several seconds, there was silence.
Then his voice dropped.
“What attorney?”
“The attorney handling the investigation into the missing trust money.”
His breathing changed.
“Evelyn, sweetheart, there must be some misunderstanding.”
I almost laughed.
Three days earlier, I’d been unwelcome in his home.
Now I was his sweetheart again.
“Dad, you should speak with your own lawyer.”
Then I ended the call.
Later that morning, Rebecca and I arrived at the house.
Dad opened the door wearing an expensive watch I’d already identified among the purchases made with disputed trust funds.
Brooke stood behind him.
Neither looked particularly pleased to see us.
Rebecca introduced herself and presented the court’s temporary order.
It restricted further transfers of disputed trust assets while the legal proceedings continued.
She also delivered notice that Dad’s occupancy agreement was being terminated because of alleged violations of its terms.
He had the right to challenge the termination through the proper process.
But he couldn’t simply sell the house, mortgage it, or dispose of trust property while the matter was under review.
“This is ridiculous!” Dad shouted. “I’m her father!”
Rebecca remained calm.
“Being Evelyn’s father doesn’t give you legal authority over assets belonging to the trust.”
Brooke grabbed the papers.
“You can’t throw us out! This is our house!”
I looked directly at her.
“No, Brooke. It was Grandma’s house. She created the trust to protect it.”
Dad pointed toward the hallway.
“Your grandmother wanted this place to remain in the family!”
“And it will,” I answered. “But that doesn’t mean you can use its money however you please.”
Rebecca opened another folder.
Inside were copies of the invoices, transfer records, mortgage paperwork, emails, and photographs.
She showed Brooke the email instructing the vendor to disguise party expenses as property repairs.
My sister’s face turned pale.
“Where did you get that?”
“It’s part of the evidence collected during the investigation,” Rebecca replied.
Dad lowered himself into a chair.
For the first time, he looked genuinely frightened
