Richard lifted his briefcase and withdrew a thick manila envelope. “I am here on behalf of the legal property owner. I suggest you read these. You have seventy-two hours to vacate the premises.”
Derek’s face went from red to a confused purple. “What are you talking about? This is my house. I’ve lived here for eight years. My name is on the—”
“Your name is on nothing,” Richard interrupted, cutting him off with surgical precision. “Your name was removed from the deed eighteen months ago through a legal reconveyance process initiated by Mrs. Eleanor Mitchell prior to her death.”
Derek froze. “Eleanor? Her mother?”
“The house was never jointly owned,” Richard continued, reciting the facts like he was reading a grocery list. “It was inherited by Eleanor from her parents in 1987. She transferred sole ownership to her daughter, Sarah Mitchell, in a recorded deed dated March 15th of last year. You currently have no legal right to be here, let alone change the locks or remove the actual owner’s belongings.”
