“This deed is under active legal dispute, Howard,” I said, keeping my voice even.

“The county registry shows his company’s name on the title line since yesterday afternoon,” he said.

“My office has to enforce the recorded document until a judge signs a stay.”

“Forty-eight hours, then,” I said.

“That’s what the writ allows,” he said.

He went back down the porch steps, his hand resting lightly near his belt.

Frank snapped the clip shut on his board, climbed into the driver’s seat of his truck, and drove off toward Main Street without once looking back.

By ten o’clock the hallway smelled of cardboard and packing tape.