Instead, I was sitting alone at the kitchen table, examining paperwork as though I were preparing to confront a stranger.

I closed the folder.

Then wrote one question in my notebook.

Where did the lake lot money go?

The next line remained blank.

I intended to fill it with a verified answer.

Not a promise.

PART 4 — THE WILL THAT LEFT ME NOTHING

Bennett invited me to her office the following morning.

The public will lay in the center of her conference table.