The Whitcomb trust had three trustees on paper: Malcolm, Nathaniel’s aunt Caroline, and an outside fiduciary named Martin Webb.

Caroline had been ill for several years and seldom attended meetings.

Webb had signed annual statements without demanding supporting schedules from the project reserve.

Owen advised Nathaniel to hire independent fiduciary counsel, not the firm’s usual attorneys.

I followed Simone’s advice and retained a separate lawyer with experience in business licensing.

Neither of us wanted our interests quietly merged just because we had once been married.

When an independent accounting was requested, Malcolm first refused, arguing that family finances should remain private.