The brass desk lamp cast a narrow yellow circle over the open file for Case 4238B.

He adjusted his round spectacles on the bridge of his nose and dipped a black pen into an inkwell.

“I’m drafting our formal response to the circuit court now,” Daniel said, without looking up from his paper.

“Your father’s attorney filed an affidavit yesterday claiming he alone has paid the taxes on Cedar Lane since 2013.”

“He lied,” I said.

“Lying on an affidavit is common enough in equity court until the certified bank records show up,” Daniel said.