You Want My House? Over My Dead Body

I blew on my nails and said casually, "Get the place cleared out fast. I'm changing the locks!"

Unable to fight back, Jane pinched her son and urged, "Quick, call your Uncle Frank and get him over here!"

That caught my interest, so I did nothing and watched as the call was made.

Perfect. I wanted to see what kind of person this property manager really was, the one who had handed my house over to someone else.

In no time, a short, stocky middle-aged man wearing glasses hurried over. Trailing behind him were the two police officers I had spoken to the day before.

Jane looked at him as if she had seen her savior, but before she could speak, she was pushed aside.

The property manager, Frank Bernard, wiped the sweat off his forehead and said politely to the police. "Officers, we're here. This lady opened a resident's door without permission and removed their belongings!"

I had to admit that this property manager was fairly clever. He knew to lower himself first and turn the tables.

The police officers glanced at me and asked in a professional manner, "Ma'am, please explain what's going on."

I obliged and pulled out the deed from my bag to hand it to the police officers. "Officers, I didn't pry open anyone's door. This apartment is mine."

Before the police could even get their hands on the deed, Eric, who had been lurking nearby silently, rushed forward and snatched it away.

He tore the deed with my name on it to shreds and shoved the pieces into his mouth.

"What are you doing?"

The two police officers quickly restrained Eric, trying to get him to spit it out, but it was too late. Eric had swallowed everything.

He had brazenly destroyed the evidence. What was it if it wasn't guilt?

One of the officers scowled. "Sir, you're under arrest for destruction of property. Please follow us to the station."

"Wait!"

Frank stopped them and glared at Eric before stepping forward to say, "Let's keep things straight. I was the one who called the police first. You should first solve my problem, right?"

As the police frowned, Frank continued, "He destroyed the deed, but none of us saw what was written on it. No one can prove it had this lady's name on it. Evidence is important, isn't it?"

As he spoke, he winked and smirked. "Besides, we don't even know if the deed is genuine."

The police replied coldly, "If the deed is damaged, we can verify it with proper identification at the local county clerk's office."

"I know that." Frank rubbed his hands together and pointed at me. "That might take some time, though. Shouldn't we stop this lady's actions first?"

His words made sense, so the police officers couldn't refute them. They gave me an apologetic look.

A smug glint flashed in Frank's eyes. Any delay would give him a hundred ways to dodge responsibility.

I raised my hand lazily. "No need for that."