PART 2:
Ryan climbed out first, carrying coffee in one hand and my spare key in the other.
It would not turn.
He tried once more. With more force.
Behind him, Megan stepped down holding a clipboard, already pointing the movers toward my front porch. Their children remained in the backseat while my father’s car pulled in behind them.
“What is going on?” Ryan yelled.
I opened the door from inside, peaceful and well-rested, dressed in the robe I had bought for my first quiet morning there.
“Good morning.”
Dad’s expression darkened. “Claire, unlock this door.”
“No.”
One of the officers moved forward. “Sir, this is privately owned property. You have not been given permission to enter.”
Ryan held up the key. “She gave this key to our father.”
“No,” I replied. “Dad took it from a drawer in my old apartment while I was packing.”
Dad’s jaw went rigid.
Megan’s smile vanished. “We gave up our lease because you told me everything had been settled.”
Ryan turned sharply toward her. “It has been settled.”
I raised my phone. “Then tell them why you messaged three movers saying the owner was mentally unstable and had agreed to be gone by morning.”
The officer glanced at Ryan.
Ryan’s face flushed red.
Then my lawyer, Marisol Grant, stepped out of the sheriff’s cruiser. She had always appreciated a disaster that started on schedule.
“Mr. Bennett,” she said to my father, “Claire has submitted a report regarding attempted unlawful entry, harassment, and suspected document fraud.”
Dad gave a dismissive laugh. “Document fraud?”
Marisol opened the folder in her hands. “The rental contract your son sent to the moving company identifies you as the landlord. Your signature is on it.”
Megan inhaled sharply. “Ryan?”
Ryan stared at Dad.
Dad lowered his eyes to the ground.
That was the moment I realized Ryan had never intended only to move into my house.
He had intended to claim that I had rented my own lake house to him for one dollar per month, with Dad pretending to be the legal landlord.
Marisol handed Dad one last document.
“And there is another issue,” she said. “Claire is not the first person you attempted this with.”
All the color drained from Dad’s face.
ANSWER ” YES ” IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE WATCHING THE FULL ST0RY IN PART 3 
