“We need to exit the building immediately,” Jennifer said.

Brent’s lawyer nodded and followed us into the concrete stairwell.

The sound of our footsteps echoed loudly on the metal stairs as we descended.

“Tessa, wait!” Brent yelled from a flight above me.

“Is my mother being kicked out right now?”

“She is,” I said, not slowing my pace.

“You had sixty days to find them a place, Brent.”

We reached the heavy ground-floor door and pushed out into the bright afternoon sunlight.

The cool mountain air hit my face, and I took a deep breath.

A fire truck was already pulling into the asphalt parking lot with its sirens wailing.

We walked quickly toward the edge of the property, near a row of tall pine trees.

Brent caught up to me and grabbed my shoulder.

“You can’t do this to my family,” he hissed, his fingers digging into my wool coat.

Jennifer stepped between us, her leather briefcase held tight against her chest.

“Remove your hand from my client, Mr. Vance,” Jennifer said.

“Or the police officers over there will handle it.”