At 9:00 a.m. the following day, I marched into Margaret’s local bank branch. Presenting the certified death certificate, the Last Will, and Attorney Harrison’s legal injunction, I executed a hard, legal freeze on the entire estate.
“Per federal regulations, no cash withdrawals or transfers can be processed until probate concludes,” the teller confirmed, stamping the paperwork with a satisfying, heavy thud.
If Mark attempted to swipe a debit card in Maui to pay for Chloe’s expensive tastes, or transfer funds to hide them, he would hit a reinforced concrete wall.
By 3:00 p.m., I received an automated alert on my phone. Mark’s flight had landed. I retreated to my motel room, opening the smart-home security application on my tablet. Years ago, I had installed hidden cameras in the living room and kitchen to monitor Margaret’s safety while I was cooking or doing laundry. Now, they were my personal theater.
