Mallerie’s expression hardened instantly.

“You have some nerve coming in here,” she said, setting her mug down.

“This is my office, Mallerie,” Carl said.

His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it I hadn’t heard before.

“Not anymore,” Mallerie said.

She tapped the yellowed ledger sitting on the desk in front of her.

“I found your old records, Carl,” she said, a cold smile appearing on her face. “I know how this building was structured.”

“You don’t know anything,” I said, stepping forward.

I opened the manila folder and pulled out the legal documents.

“What is that?” Jake asked, his eyes narrowing as he looked at me.

“This is an official three-day notice to quit,” I said.

I stepped up to the desk and placed the paper directly in front of Mallerie.

She didn’t look at it.

“I don’t have to look at anything you give me,” Mallerie said.

“You do if you want to know why the police will be here in seventy-two hours,” I said.

“On what grounds?” she sneered.

“Illegal occupancy,” I said. “Fraud.”