What sort of lien?
It’s been attached by the IRS.
As of when?
He looked at the machine again. As of the third of March. I’m sorry.
He slid the check back across the till. Western looked at the numbers.
I cant withdraw any money.
I’m afraid not. I’m sorry.
He walked out down the lobby toward the street. When he got to the door he stopped. Then he turned and came back.
He signed in on the safe deposit log and went down to the vault with the security officer. The officer took Western’s keys but when he got to the number there was a strip of tape across it with some writing and some numbers. He turned back to Western. I’m sorry, he said. The contents of your box have been seized by the Internal Revenue.
How often does this happen?
Not very often.
They dont need a court order?
I dont believe they do, Sir.
They have to have something.
I dont think so. If you’d like to talk to one of the bank officers.
That’s all right.
Cormac McCarthy, The Passenger
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