Two hours later a courier knocked and handed me a thick manila envelope.

I opened it at the kitchen island. A Mechanic’s Lien and a Notice of Pending Lawsuit. Richard was suing me for $15,000, claiming that ten years ago he’d personally funded the replacement of my home’s roof, creating an “equitable interest” in the property.

The attached letter from his discount lawyer stated that any attempt to evict them while a dispute of ownership was active would be met with an immediate injunction.

They were holding my house hostage.

Eric walked in, read the papers over my shoulder. “Mel… maybe we just let them stay until the condo—”

“They aren’t waiting for the condo, Eric,” I interrupted, pulling the CPS letter from my pocket and slapping it onto the granite. “Read this. They’re stealing Grace’s room to pass a custody inspection.