“He spent his last three years methodically stripping Victoria of legal authority over every major family asset.”

I wondered where Walter had hidden the original recorded property deeds.

Vance reached deep into the dark inside of the safe, past three stacks of legal ledgers and two metal cash boxes.

He pulled out a dusty brown folder tied tight with a black cloth ribbon and laid it flat on the mahogany desk in front of me.

Arthur Vance smoothed his palm over the heavy manila cover and tapped his brass pen twice against his open leather binder.

“Your father made me sole trustee of the irrevocable estate trust four years ago,” Vance said, his voice flat and deliberate.