CHAPTER 7A Rude Awakening

IT WAS A PERFECT, sunny California day, but a maelstrom was brewing, and I had no idea from which direction or when it would land.

I was on my way to sign a retainer agreement with my new lawyer, Barry Cappello, when I saw him. A stranger was at my gate, changing the code on the keypad. The sight of the intruder threw me into a flat panic, so I called Barry: “Someone’s messing with the keypad to the front gate. What should I do?”

“Tell him to stop, leave immediately, or you will call the sheriff and have him arrested. He’s trespassing. And Ilana, do not leave the property. We can take care of our business via fax.”

I pulled up in the jeep, opened the door, and screamed, “What do you think you’re doing? Get off my property! ...

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