Chapter 5 - The Midnight Exodus From The Estate
At 1:00 AM, two white Travis County Sheriff cruisers pulled into the long asphalt driveway of the Vance estate, their lights unlit to preserve the quiet of the neighborhood.
Deputy Sheriff Thomas, an old family friend who had served with Richard in Iraq, stepped onto the deck holding a stack of formal eviction notices.
Jessica stood near the glass doors, weeping silently as female officers placed her wrists into steel handcuffs for outstanding wire fraud warrants.
"You can't take my robe! This is real silk!" Jessica sobbed as she was escorted down the wooden steps toward the waiting patrol cars.
Greg was forced to sign the emergency protective order on the hood of the lead cruiser under the glare of the flashlights.
He was stripped of his house keys, his luxury vehicle key fobs, and his corporate credit cards before being handed a single trash bag containing his personal clothes.
"You have ten minutes to clear your boots off this property, Mr. Miller," Deputy Thomas ordered sternly, tapping his nightstick against his thigh.
"If your vehicle is seen within five miles of this residence before the court hearing on Monday, you will be held without bail."
Greg took the plastic trash bag, his expensive white dress shirt covered in dirt, his hair disheveled as he looked back at the grand house.
Emily stood on the second-story balcony, flanked by her father, watching the scene unfold with quiet, dignified calm.
Greg locked eyes with her for a brief second, his face twisting into a silent vow of vengeance before he turned and walked down the dark suburban street on foot.
As the taillights of the police vehicles faded into the night, Richard placed a warm hand over his daughter's shoulder.
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"It's over, sweetheart," Richard said softly. "The house is secure."
"It's not over, Dad," Emily whispered, looking down at her bump. "Greg knows where the family deeds are hidden in San Antonio."
