“And what did you say to him?”

“I told him you founded Mitchell Family Holdings forty years ago and your mind is sharper than his,” she said briskly.

“Then I told him to send any future questions through my office during normal business hours.”

I watched the steam curl up from the black coffee.

“He’s trying to build a legal excuse to take over the estate.”

“He’s looking for leverage,” Margaret said.

“A man who owes a bank money will try five different doors before he admits every one of them is locked.”