My wife, Demi Benedict, is to receive nothing — not one dollar, not one asset, not one keepsake.” He drew a breath. “And there is one more instruction.

On my bedside table there is a recording, made yesterday evening, of my wife describing in her own words how and why she has been poisoning me. Jace has a copy.

If it is shown that Demi contributed to my death — and it will be — that recording is to go directly to the State’s Attorney and to the FBI. I will not have my murder go unanswered because I was too polite to leave the evidence.”

Jace already had the recording. He had listened to it once, alone, in his car in the hospital parking structure, and had sat very still afterward for a long time.

Now he confirmed for the camera that a certified copy had been secured on an encrypted drive, sealed, and logged.

They executed the documents. Roderick signed with a hand that shook so badly Brandon had to look away, but he signed, in full view of the camera, and the witnesses signed, and the notary signed, and it was done.