After He Threw….

Emily finally slept.

Not well. But deeply enough to dream of rain turning into applause she couldn’t understand.

Daniel Price’s office occupied the second floor of an old brick building above a bakery in downtown Wheaton.

He was younger than Emily expected, maybe early forties, with tired eyes and the kind of calm that probably cost a fortune. He listened without interrupting. Took notes. Asked precise questions. Read the documents twice.

When Emily finished telling him what happened, he leaned back in his chair and exhaled slowly.

“All right,” he said. “There are several issues here. Family law, domestic violence, financial fraud, possible criminal exposure, possibly federal depending on the transfers.”

Emily sat very still.

Daniel folded his hands. “The good news is your husband is not nearly as smart as he thinks he is.”

Natalie muttered, “That’s my favorite kind of good news.”

Daniel almost smiled. “These forged signatures are sloppy. The timing of the transfers is suspicious. And if the house was substantially funded by protected inheritance money, we have a strong argument for tracing those assets and challenging any fraudulent encumbrances.”

Emily blinked. “In English?”

“In English,” Daniel said, “your husband may have just handed us the rope he planned to use on you.”

Something fierce lit in Natalie’s face.

Daniel continued, “I’m filing for emergency temporary orders today. Exclusive possession of the residence may take a little maneuvering because title is muddy, but with the assault and the children involved, we have leverage. I also want a forensic freeze motion drafted if possible. And—” he tapped the papers Vanessa had helped preserve, “—I’d like to know more about whoever gave you these.”