Chapter 10 - An Unexpected Eviction
At 10:00 AM the following Monday, a black Mercedes carrying me and two Cook County Sheriff’s deputies pulled into the parking lot of Henderson Architectural Design in suburban Glenview.
The office was located in an aging strip mall that Richard had rented for over fifteen years. Inside, Richard was sitting at his drafting table, looking haggard and hollowed-out, arguing violently on the phone with what sounded like an angry creditor. Brandon was sitting on an adjacent sofa, scrolling through his phone in sweatpants, looking like an unemployed ghost.
When the glass front door opened, the silver bell chimed softly. Richard didn't even look up.
"I told you, the wire transfer will clear by Wednesday!" Richard barked into the phone. "Stop calling my personal—"
"Hang up the phone, Richard," I said.
Richard froze. His head snapped up. Brandon scrambled up from the sofa, his eyes widening with instant fear and guilt.
"Claire?" Richard stammered, slamming the phone down on the desk. "What the hell are you doing here with the police? Did you bring the settlement check? I told you on the phone that we have seventy-two hours before—"
"There is no check, Richard," I said, stepping aside as Deputy Miller stepped forward with a thick legal clipboard.
"Richard Henderson?" Deputy Miller asked formally.
"Yes, but—"
"I am serving you with an immediate Court-Ordered Commercial Eviction Notice on behalf of Kensington Commercial Holdings, owner of this parcel," the deputy announced firmly. "Your commercial lease has been terminated due to non-payment spanning ninety consecutive days. You have two hours to pack all personal effects. Any equipment, furniture, or inventory remaining on the premises after twelve noon will be seized and auctioned to satisfy the outstanding judgment of forty-two thousand dollars."
Richard’s face drained of every drop of color. "Kensington? What does Kensington have to do with this? This is our family business! Claire, tell them to stop! You work there! Call your boss and fix this!"
"I am the boss of this portfolio, Richard," I took a step forward, looking down at him with icy precision. "And I don't extend credit to insolvent businesses run by fraudsters."
Brandon stepped forward, his fists clenched, tears of hysterical rage welling in his eyes. "You evil bitch! You’re taking dad's office too? You took my car, you ruined my wedding, and now you’re throwing us onto the street? You owe us! Mom sacrificed everything for you!"
"Your mother tried to steal eighty-eight thousand dollars from me, Brandon," I snapped, my voice freezing him mid-stride. "And your father committed felony bank fraud by forging my name on the secondary mortgage for the Lake Forest house."
Richard dropped into his office chair like a puppet with its strings cut. His hands began to shake violently.
"You... you know about that?" Richard whispered, his voice cracking.
May you like
"The federal compliance audit has already been triggered, Richard," I replied softly. "You have until noon to get your things out of this office. I suggest you call Eleanor and tell her to start packing the house."
***