By two o’clock that afternoon, I was sitting in the quiet office of Rachel Monroe, the real estate attorney.

Her office smelled of old paper and furniture polish, a sharp contrast to the fresh cut cedar scent that had taken over my backyard.

Rachel sat behind her dark walnut desk, tapping her silver pen on a yellow notepad as she studied the certified survey map.

“Carl Henderson is the best in the county,” Rachel said, her voice calm and measured.

“His seal on this map means we have all the leverage we need for a court order.”