Henderson's smug face, the forged signature, the name 'Brenda Hayes'-it all swirle

. But as I pulled up to the house, the scene in front of me was so bizarre, so

porch. Colorful balloons were tied to the railings, and a large banner was st

ouse. It was being used

y. People with plastic cups of beer turned to look at me, their faces a mixture of

loudly. Next to her was a burly man with a thick neck and a proprietary arm wrapped around her waist. H

t the hell is going on here?" I aske

ltered, replaced by a look of carefully const

who you are and what you're

t. "Your house? I think you're mistaken, buddy. This

rogance, that for a split second, the wo

lips. I looked directly at Brenda. "That's funny

She put a hand to her chest, her eyes widening in

one was watching us. "This is my parents' house. And that marriage certificat

ugh the crowd. Jake's face

wife. We have the deed to this place.

"Because I never sold it. And I

n. "Leave them alone! Brenda told us all about you. H

n. They weren't just stealing my property; they

fixed on Brenda. Her eyes were start

he whispered, clutching h

throw a big party to celebrate buying a new house," I said, my voice laced with suspicion, "but you do it with a loan you

rom the way her eyes darte

s clenching. "You've got one second to get

the screen as if I were back in my office debugging code. I star

cold and steady. "I'm documenting ev

the crowd, capturing their faces, their whispers. Then I focus

ok a quick, discreet photo, zooming in. I could see account statements

smile on my face. "Because it's th

was going to use every tool at my disposal to win it. I had the video, the photo of their mail. It wasn't much, but it was a start. The apathetic te