Chapter 6 - The Arrival of the Red and Blue
At precisely 8:43 PM, the quiet winter night was broken by the low, rhythmic thrum of heavy engines.
Two King County Sheriff patrol cruisers, followed by an unmarked dark sedan driven by Detective Miller, rolled slowly down the snow-covered street. Their tires crunched softly against the ice.
They didn't turn on their sirens, but the moment they pulled up to the curb directly behind my car, their emergency light bars lit up the night. Strobing beams of crimson and neon blue reflected off the snow, painting the white facade of 47 Maple Avenue in dramatic, flashing hues.
In the front window of the Victorian, the shadows instantly froze. I saw Cousin Derek pull back the sheer curtains, his face illuminated by the police lights, his mouth hanging open in confusion.
Jennifer looked at me from the driver's seat. "Ready?"
"Let's go," I said.
We stepped out of the Audi into the freezing air. Detective Miller, a tall, sharp-featured woman in a heavy tactical coat, stepped out of the unmarked sedan, holding a thick manila folder.
"Miss Campbell," Detective Miller nodded to me, her breath misting in the cold. "Attorney Vance provided the recorded audio and the King County Title Registry documentation. Everything is verified. We’re ready to proceed with the emergency eviction service."
"Thank you, Detective," I said.
We walked up the snow-covered front walkway as a group—myself, Jennifer, Detective Miller, and two armed uniformed deputies.
As we reached the front steps, I looked down at the snow. My gifts were still lying there. The navy wrapping paper on Mom's designer coat was soaked through with melting slush. The crystal glass from Dad's watch was shattered across the bottom step.
Detective Miller saw the scattered presents, glanced at me, and set her jaw firmly.
She walked up to the heavy oak door and knocked—three hard, heavy, professional strikes that echoed through the entire house.
THUD. THUD. THUD.
Inside, the music stopped abruptly. Footsteps rushed toward the foyer.
The lock turned, and the door swung open. My father stood on the threshold, wearing a triumphant, arrogant smile. He had his hands in his pockets, clearly expecting to see me standing there shivering, begging for forgiveness.
"Officers!" Dad declared in a loud, boisterous voice, stepping onto the porch. "Thank God you're here so fast! Did you pick up my daughter? I told her if she trespassed on my property again, I’d have her locked up!"
Detective Miller didn't smile. She pulled her tablet from her belt, checked the screen, and looked my father dead in the eye.
"Mr. Robert Campbell?" Miller asked coldly.
"Yes, that's right," Dad preened, puffing out his chest. "I'm the owner of this house."
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"Sir," Detective Miller said, her voice ringing out clearly across the quiet neighborhood, "we are not here to arrest your daughter. We are here to serve an emergency notice of illegal occupancy and criminal deed fraud regarding this property."
My father’s triumphant smile instantly vanished.
