The Landlord's Game of Control

hone call or a threat, it was immediate, tangible retaliation. I was still at the hospital, sittin

ere. Henderson is changing the

e can't

But he has a handyman with him, and they're putting all your stuff from the hallwa

ld the last pictures of

calm. I kissed my mother's forehead, whisper

e, I called

llegally evicting me from my apartment at 123 Oak Street, apa

voice was profess

ent at that address this morning, ma'am. We will dispatch officers imm

ed the corner. But Henderson had been clever. He hadn't put the bags on the curb. He had his handyman, a sul

entrance. I quickly explained the

y things because I reported

get involved in a civil dispute, ma'am. But an illega

in front of my open apartment door. A new, shiny silver

not looking at me. "Landlord's o

woman with a no-nonsense e

from entering her legal residence.

Henderson said not to let anyone

e hardening. "Your landlord's orders don't override

crew from the local news station I had called, a reporter and a cameraman. They must

t up to the scene. "What's going on here? We got a tip about

enderson himself came storming up t

rivate building! I'm dealing with a hazardous materials situation caused by a

s. "Mr. Henderson, we're here to ens

ng sued for property damage! Her illegal space heater probably overloaded the cir

I just stared at him. The camera

aking. "I have repair requests dating

he spat. "You'll do

face. The reporter, Jessica, st

on monoxide leak that sent a 72-year-old

orter's face, Henderson seemed to realize he had gon

re are two sides to eve

n called back to the scene by the police, arrived

ary report confirms the CO leak originated from a cracked heat exchanger in the building's main f

as trapped. The police, the media, the fire department, t

lice officer ordered Frank to unlock my door and the fire chief began asking Henderson po

ide, just by the entrance, was a small bookshelf holding my son's school trophies and a cla

elf. It toppled over with a sickening crash,

, looking directly

aught the whole thing. The female officer grabb

id, her voice like