Chapter 4 - Freezing the Lifeblood
Dustin stopped breathing. The crowbar slipped from his fingers, landing with a dull thud in the sawdust.
"What are you talking about?" he whispered.
"The estate on Crestview Terrace was purchased through the Carter Family Living Trust," David Ross said, his dry, clinical voice slicing through the humid barn. "The deed was never in your name. General Carter permitted you to sign the utility declarations and maintain the aesthetic management of the property as a marital courtesy. Furthermore, the commercial lease for your architectural studio on 4th Street? Held by the same trust. The vehicles registered to your brother and your mother? Owned by Carter Fleet Logistics."
Ross adjusted his glasses, looking up from the pages. "As of six-thirty this morning, General Carter revoked all spousal power of attorney and liquidated the auxiliary operating accounts. Mr. Kelly, you currently have ninety-four dollars in your personal checking account. And you have six hours to vacate the Crestview property before the military police and county sheriff execute a formal detainer."
Dustin looked like he had been struck with an iron pipe. He stumbled backward against the side of the red truck, his hand leaving a smudge on the dusty fender.
"No," he said, shaking his head furiously. "No, that's impossible. We’re married. We have community property! Half of everything you have is mine! The law—"
"The law protects marital assets, Dustin," I said. "Not military trust capital acquired prior to the marriage and maintained under federal sovereign shield. But more importantly... you forfeited every claim to my family the second your hand struck Eleanor’s face."
He stared at me, and for the first time in seven years, I saw the true measure of the man I had married. Without the bespoke suits bought with my allowances, without the illusion of his high-society architectural pedigree paid for by my accounts, he was nothing more than a frightened, shallow boy who had built a kingdom out of another woman's stolen valor.
"Audrey, please," he whimpered, suddenly dropping his hands to his sides. He took a step toward me, tears cutting clean tracks through the grease on his cheeks. "We can fix this. I was stressed. You know how hard it's been with Trevor threatening to confess, with the blackmailer demanding more cash every month... I lost my head. I didn't mean to hurt your mother. You know I love Eleanor. I'll apologize on my knees. Just... please don't do this. Don't destroy my life."
"You destroyed your own life two years ago when you helped Trevor haul this truck into the dark," I said.
I turned to Vance. "Colonel. Secure the scene. Hand the vehicle and the kerosene over to the state crime lab under joint jurisdiction. I want every fingerprint on that steering wheel, every trace of DNA on that bumper, and the origin of that fuel jug logged."
"Yes, General."
"Audrey!" Dustin lunged forward, but Vance caught him by the collar of his sweater with one hand, twisting it effortlessly and forcing Dustin down into the damp dirt.
"Do not approach the General," Vance said without a trace of emotion.
I didn't look back as I walked out of the barn into the rain.
Outside, my phone began to vibrate continuously. I unlocked the screen. Twenty-four missed calls from Trevor. Twelve from Brenda. Three from the director of the Crestview Country Club, informing me that the Kelly family’s corporate membership had been suspended due to non-payment of the quarterly retainer.
I tapped the screen and called David Ross’s office.
"David," I said as the attorney walked out of the barn behind me.
"Yes, Audrey?"
May you like
"Execute the secondary foreclosures. The beach house in Destin that Brenda lives in during the winter. Trevor’s sports bar downtown. Everything that carries my signature as guarantor. Cut the power. Lock the doors. By noon, I want them to realize exactly what their lives cost without me."
***
