Denise requested an emergency court order barring Travis from selling, hiding, or destroying marital property, and she contacted the lender to formally challenge the home-equity loan.

Then Dad drove me back to the house with two police officers. Travis opened the door wearing the same smug expression as the day before.

It vanished the instant he saw the officers. “This is a family disagreement,” he said.

One officer looked over the court documents in Denise’s hand. “Mrs. Hayes has the legal right to enter her residence.”

“My name is Morgan,” Travis corrected.

The officer looked at me.