“The emergency petition was granted at eight fifteen this morning,” Frank said.

“Every real estate transaction connected to the Maple Street deed is frozen until full asset discovery is complete.”

I sat across from him in the high-backed leather chair, turning the silver ring on my right thumb as I read through the legal wording.

“Does Daniel get an automatic notice from the court clerk?” I asked.

Frank took off his wire-rimmed glasses and started polishing the lenses with a little gray cloth.

“The court mails an official notice to the property address, but your husband won’t grasp the full legal wall until the process server walks up onto his porch.”