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“When did you read the will?” Joa
“Yesterday evening. She came to see me around noon, about as soon as she got to town, I guess. I don’t think she even bothered to go to the funeral home before she showed up at my house-in a limo, no less-demanding to see the will right then. In all my years in practice, I’ve never seen anything like it. I tried to stall; told her there were other people involved who should be present as well, but when I couldn’t reach you, I finally went ahead without you. She insisted. Have you seen her yet?”
“Briefly,” Joa
“Did she say anything to you?” Burton Kimball asked.
“She seemed upset. She said something to the effect that I had killed her father by working him into the grave. She asked me about the status of the investigation. I told her that since Dr. Winfield had ruled Clayton dead of natural causes, there wasn’t going to be any investigation. As soon as she heard that, she went off on a wild tirade about George Winfield having a conflict of interest in the case, but I didn’t think anything of it. I chalked it up to her being overwrought. In situations like that, people end up saying all kinds of things they don’t really mean.”
“I believe she meant it, all right,” Burton Kimball said softly. “She meant every word. After the will was read, she threw a fit. She ranted and raged and said that she’d had her suspicions, but now she was sure you had murdered her father and that George Winfield was helping you by covering it up.”
“Mom,” Je
Joa
“Unfortunately, I do,” Burton replied. “Now how can I get you that letter? You need to know what’s in it. Should I bring it out to the house?”
“No,” Joa
“Linda and the kids are going off to church themselves,” Burton said. “How about if I meet you uptown at my office. Say, forty-five minutes?”
Joa
Two hours later, Joa
For years Joa
Now, though, seated discreetly in the fifth pew back, Joa
Dear Joa
By now you know of my intention to leave my place to you. I understand that if you marry Butch Dixon, it will be partially his, too.
I want you to know how much working for you these past few years has meant to me. When you’re old, it’s easy to get thrown on the scrap heap and forgotten. I’ve enjoyed getting to know Je
I’ve seen how you are with High Lonesome Ranch. I know how much it means to you, and how hard you’ve had to work to keep it. If I were to pass my place along to Reba, she would take the first offer to sell it and wouldn’t care what became of it later. She may say this isn’t fair and she may try to make you feel sorry for her, but don’t fall for it. She treated her mother and me like scum. If she gets anything at all, it’s more than she deserves.
I wish you and yours the best, Joa
Sincerely,
Clayton Rhodes
Joa
“He can’t mean this” was the first thing Joa
“He meant it all right,” the attorney had returned calmly.
“But what about Reba? She’s his daughter, after all.”
“She’s also a complete bitch, if you’ll pardon the expression,” Burton said. “The will was properly drawn and witnessed a year and a half ago. And, as I told you on the phone, it isn’t as though she’ll be left with nothing. After taxes, she’ll still have a fair chunk of cash which, as far as I can tell, is all she’s interested in anyway.”
“A year and a half,” Joa
“There was another letter,” Burton Kimball said kindly. “One that was written at the time we drew up the will. Clayton threw that one away and wrote this one after you and Butch Dixon a
Joa
Burton Kimball smiled. “Now you’ll have three hundred and sixty. That’ll be a lot more work.” The lawyer paused and smiled. “By the way,” he added, “congratulations from Linda, and me as well. On your engagement, that is. When’s the big day?”
“Next Saturday.”
“Well, then. I’m sure Clayton would be happy to know that he’s giving the two of you a terrific wedding present. The place will have to be appraised. The IRS will want us to establish current market value for estate-tax purposes. And, of course, that valuation will give you an official basis in the property should you later decide to sell it.”
“What about the will?” Joa
Burton’s smile disappeared abruptly. “Every will is contestable if someone wants to go to the trouble, that is. However, Clayton stipulated that all costs related to contesting the will are to be deducted from the cash portion of the proceeds. In other words, if Reba tries to go against the will, she’ll have to pay her attorney’s expenses and mine as well. That’s assuming, of course, that you want me to handle it. That would also apply to the expenses of any other attorney you might choose to represent you.”
“Is that why Reba thinks I murdered her father?” Joa