“Xavier had a will, of course, but the majority of his assets were placed in a family trust, which includes the proceeds from the sale of his business last year. But I’ll come back to that.” The attorney stopped when Isabel made a strange sound, then he continued. “Some items, those outside of the trust except for life insurance, which is a different asset altogether, meet the monetary limit and will require probate.”
Isabel started to talk. “You mean—”
The attorney continued as if he hadn’t heard her. “Let’s start there. Xavier gave his Mercedes to Lukas Grange. Xavier’s note says,Asa thank-you andLukas will know why.”
That got everyone’s attention. So did Lukas’s muttering.
“I actually don’t.” Lukas shook his head. “What’s he referring to?”
His stunned gaze met Stella’s. An indecipherable look passed between them. The kind of unspoken communication that came from years of marriage. Must be a case of leftover intimacy or understanding because they hadn’t been a couple for a long time.
The attorney continued. “Xavier left his truck to his niece, Isabel Clarke. His note says,Sheearned it.”
“What?” Isabel’s mouth dropped open. “What am I supposed to do with a twenty-year-old piece-of-junk truck?”
It took every bit of willpower not to laugh. Xavier loved that hulking thing. He could barely haul his body in the vehicle at the end, but he loved to ride around town and his property in it. Lord over everything and everyone around him.
Seeing an aging millionaire gleefully clutching the oversized wheel as he maneuvered the massive vehicle on narrow streets had been quite a sight and a regular occurrence. Isabel might not appreciate the gift, but it was as if Xavier had passed his prized possession to her.
Unless it meant something only the two of them knew. If so, Isabel wasn’t talking. She was too busy sputtering.
The attorney didn’t even blink. “Xavier had a life insurance policy, which is a bit of a surprise in light of his age and assets, but he maintained it. It’s very small in comparison to the estate, two hundred thousand dollars, and it goes to Isabel Clarke, outside of the will and trust, of course.”
“Good.” Isabel’s tense shoulders relaxed but only slightly. “But there’s more. Clearly.”
My guess is she expected one line in these directions that said:Give everything to my niece.If so, she had no idea how little Xavier had thought of her. I did because Xavier wasn’t exactly quiet about his disdain. He hated people who “mooched” off him, and he accused her of that often and loudly. Made it clear he thought she owed him.
The attorney continued. “Xavier listed Stella Clarke as the beneficiary of his retirement assets. There are two accounts. One is more substantial and attaches to his former company. She can, but is not obligated to, provide a portion to her mother, Isabel.”
“Stella controls my money?” Isabel’s voice shook with fury.
“Mom.” Stella’s mouth fell into a thin line. “Not now.”
Oh, boy. The family byplay came with an undercurrent ofwatching a car wreckthat provided more than a little amusement. But I really didn’t need to be here for this.
Seeing Aubrey smile over the turmoil didn’t help my unsteady mood. Dark energy swirled inside me. The urge to bolt, to run and keep running, slammed into me. I had to concentrate to keep my numb butt in that uncomfortable chair.
The attorney shot Isabel a look that telegraphed his annoyance at being interrupted. “Actually, it’s your daughter’s money. She can share if she wishes. I will provide the insurance information after the meeting.”
Isabel wrenched away when Stella touched her arm. “You can’t—”
“Moving on.” The attorney’s voice rose, drowning out Isabel’s whining. “Victoria’s wedding ring, which was left on her bedside table on the day of her... disappearance, goes to Marni Richards.”
Even Isabel fell silent at that.
The attorney cleared his throat. “The note says,Becauseit’s what you always wanted.”
“What? No.” Marni shook her head. “That can’t be right.”
“Interesting.” Aubrey didn’t sound upset. More like intrigued.
She wasn’t the only one. We all looked at Marni, some of us more obvious in our confusion than others. Marni visibly swallowed as the spotlight moved to her. A red stain spread across her cheeks, but she didn’t say another word.
Xavier’s obscure note had all of us squirming. I experienced a severe case of secondhand embarrassment. The kind that wouldn’t fade for a long time.
“Xavier says he held and invested Patrick and Victoria’s assets for the benefit of his granddaughter, Aubrey. With her reappearance, those assets, including the former family home, long since unoccupied, will pass to her.” The attorney flashed Aubrey a quick look before focusing on the paper in front of him again. “Because of the, uh, issues involved with the disappearances and Xavier’s refusal to have the whole family declared officially deceased—”
“That would have been awkward.” Aubrey smiled. A feral, scary-as-hell smile.
