“I was told your flight from Germany didn’t get in until tomorrow night.”

“The Air Force runs on schedule, Mr.

Vance,” I said.

“Even when the family doesn’t.”

Vance tapped his heavy brass pen carefully against the open leather binder.

He reached for a yellow tab near the back of his file and began turning the heavy parchment page.

“Since you’re here in person, Avery, the terms of the master irrevocable trust require an immediate formal reading,” Vance said, his dry voice tightening.

“As the sole designated trustee of the primary land holdings—”