Rowan,” Judge Vance said, leaning over his bench, “you’re named as a secondary heir in your stepfather’s probate filings.”

“I am,” I said, keeping it short and direct.

“Two weeks ago, Gene Miller offered me ten thousand dollars to clear out Frank’s house and sign an estate waiver.”

I took the uncashed cashier’s check out of my paper folder and set it on the ledge of the podium.

“Did you take the settlement?” Judge Vance asked.

“No,” I said.

“The memo line on this check says ‘final settlement of maternal claim.’ It was an attempt to buy my silence before this court sat.”