And within seconds — because Phoebe had made her phone call, and because the house’s new owner had not become a wealthy man by being careless — three vehicles from an elite private security firm came up the drive and boxed in the SUVs, and four uniformed officers stepped out, and behind them, a moment later, came two Boulder Police Department cruisers, lights turning silently in the dusk.

Marcus threw his hands in the air.

“Whoa — hey — what is this?

My buddy Luca Vance owns this place!

He gave us the code himself!”

The lead police officer stepped forward with a document in his hand and read from it without any particular urgency.

“Luca Vance does not own this property, sir.

As of two o’clock this afternoon, this estate is registered to the Redwood Crest Holdings Trust, and the legal owner has filed a formal trespass notice.