Richard picked up his leather briefcase from the floor and slid his right arm into his coat sleeve.

“You told me six weeks ago that your eldest daughter had legally waived all rights to the family estate,” Richard said.

“She did,” Gerald said.

“The paperwork was processed in town.”

“I spoke with Marcus Vance ten minutes ago near the club entrance,” Richard said.

“He told me you filed an unexecuted trust amendment without a co-trustee’s signature.”

Gerald tapped his signet ring twice against the rim of his empty glass.

“Marcus Vance is a small-town probate lawyer trying to make noise.”