My hands trembled as I looked at the small silver key resting in my palm.
David: Lily, stay right here on the counter for a minute, okay?
Lily: Don't leave me, Daddy.
David: I'm just going to the bedroom closet right across the hall. I can see you the whole time.
I walked briskly into the master bedroom, my pulse pounding in my ears like a heavy drumbeat. I pulled back the sliding closet door and moved Brenda's expensive designer shoes aside, revealing the dark gray steel safe situated in the corner.
David: Let's see what you've really been hiding.
I inserted the key into the tumbler and turned it. The latch clicked open with a sharp, heavy metallic pop.
David: What is all this?
Inside was not a stack of tax papers. Instead, there were three thick manila envelopes, several USB flash drives, and a official folder from a prominent estate law office in the city.
David: Sarah's life insurance payout...?
I pulled out the top document. It was a fake power of attorney document with my signature forged on the bottom line, authorizing full access to Lily's trust fund.
David: She was trying to drain Lily's inheritance...
Outside the bedroom window, I heard the sharp sound of heels clicking hurriedly up the front driveway steps, followed by the aggressive pounding of knuckles against the wooden front door.
Brenda: David! Open this door right now! You have no legal right to lock me out of my own home!
I quickly slipped the documents and USB drives into my leather briefcase and locked the safe back up.
David: I'm coming, Brenda!
I walked back out to the kitchen, picking up Lily into my left arm while holding the briefcase in my right hand.
Lily: Is that the lady outside?
David: Don't worry, sweetie. She can't get in.
I pulled up my phone's contact list and dialed my primary attorney, Arthur Vance, setting the call to speakerphone.
Arthur: David? Is everything alright? You sound breathless.
David: Arthur, I need a emergency restraining order and a full lockdown on Lily's trust fund immediately.
Arthur: What happened? Did Brenda do something?
David: She physically put her hands on Lily, and I just found forged power of attorney papers in her safe attempting to siphon the estate.
Arthur: Don't touch anything else. Are you in a safe location?
David: We are inside the house, but she is pounding on the door right now.
Arthur: Call the police right now, David. I'm heading to the courthouse to file for an emergency custody order and asset freeze.
David: Do it now.
Before I could hang up, the sound of breaking glass echoed from the back patio door, followed by heavy footsteps rushing into the dining room.
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