“Under the terms Walter set up, you hold primary beneficiary rights, as long as the estate stays solvent.”

He slid a blue county notice across the dark mahogany desk.

“The county treasurer issued a final delinquency order six days ago,” Vance said.

“There’s fifteen thousand dollars in back property taxes past due on the lakefront acreage.

If that sum isn’t paid in full by four o’clock tomorrow afternoon, the county puts the parcel on the auction register for a tax lien sale.”

“Victoria told me the county fees were taken care of in June,” I said, adjusting the canvas strap of my duffel bag against my collarbone.