David helped Elena sit up comfortably against the soft pillows on the bed.
He fetched a cool cup of water from the bathroom and handed it to her.
Elena: Thank you, David.
David: Tell me everything that happened from the day I left for my last deployment.
Elena took a small sip of water before speaking in a low voice.
Elena: It started two months ago when Victoria brought Ricardo to the house.
David: What excuse did she give for bringing a lawyer here?
Elena: She said your father had hidden debts on the house mortgage.
David: My father paid off the entire mortgage five years ago.
Elena: I told her that, but she produced fake bank statements signed by a judge.
David gathered up the legal papers scattered across the nightstand table.
He carefully read through every line of small legal print on the white pages.
David: This document transfers the complete title deed to a private shell corporation.
Elena: Ricardo said he owned that business entity in an offshore bank account.
David: They were planning to liquidate the whole estate and split the cash.
Elena: When I refused to sign, Victoria locked the heavy oak doors from the outside.
David felt his chest tighten with overwhelming outrage and protective love.
David: Did anyone else in the mansion see what they were doing to you?
Elena: Mrs. Higgins, the housekeeper, tried to bring me food on Tuesday night.
David: Did Victoria catch her helping you?
Elena: Victoria fired her on the spot and threatened her with a lawsuit.
David: So Mrs. Higgins knows that you were locked in this room against your will.
Elena's eyes lit up with a small ray of hope for the first time.
Elena: Yes, she saw Ricardo holding the bedroom key in his hand!
David pulled out his military cell phone from his pocket.
David: I am calling my old friend Marcus right now.
Elena: Who is Marcus?
David: He is the top divorce lawyer and estate attorney in the entire state.
David dialed the phone number and placed the call on speaker mode.
Marcus: Captain Vance! I heard you got back home today.
David: Marcus, I need your legal help immediately at my family mansion.
Marcus: What is going on over there, David?
David: Victoria locked my wife away and forced her to sign our inheritance away.
Marcus: Stay right where you are and do not sign anything else.
Marcus: I am grabbing my legal team and driving over to your home right now.