“I’m not going anywhere.”

The fake attorney stepped forward.

“Miss Clare Thompson, I have a court-sanctioned transfer order and writ of possession. You are legally required to vacate immediately.”

I smiled politely.

“Please come in. I’d love to see these documents.”

They walked inside full of confidence. The man opened his briefcase and laid out the papers. I photographed each page slowly with my phone.

“These are very thorough. Which firm prepared them?”

“Blackwood and Associates,” he said. “We specialize in complex estate corrections.”

“And all of you are confident these documents are legitimate?”

“I stake my professional reputation on it,” he said.

Julia rolled her eyes.

“Clare, stop stalling. You lost.”

My father nodded.

“This house should have benefited the whole family.”

My mother added,

“Some people can’t handle responsibility.”

I walked to the front window, pulled back the lace curtain, and turned to them.

“Actually, there’s someone here you should meet.”

Then I opened the front door.

“David, we’re ready.”

PART 3 – THE HOUSE THAT STAYED MINE

The color drained from their faces when David Morrison walked up the front steps. He was not alone. Two uniformed Portland police officers came with him, along with Detective Megan Walsh from the Economic Crimes Division.

David entered calmly and set a real legal document beside the forged ones.

“I am David Morrison, trustee of the Helen and Robert Thompson Legacy Trust, which is the legal owner of this property. No transfer can occur without my signature. These documents are fraudulent.”

The man in the suit went pale.

“There must be some mistake.”

Detective Walsh stepped forward.

“There is a mistake, Mr. Blackwood — or should I say Gary Stevens. We’ve been investigating your operation for six months for similar schemes targeting elderly and recently bereaved families.”

Julia’s confidence collapsed.

“I didn’t know! Clare, tell them it was a mistake!”

Detective Walsh removed a small recorder.