This time he let the emotion belong to its owner.
Simone whispered:
“I would never hurt Lily.”
Daniel looked at her.
“You already did.”
A knock sounded.
Andre.
Daniel opened the door.
The attorney entered carrying a leather folder.
He was fifty-one, gray beginning at his temples, still dressed in the dark suit he used for Saturday client meetings.
He saw Simone.
Then the hair.
Then Daniel.
His face tightened.
“I’m sorry.”
Daniel said:
“Show me.”
Andre opened the folder.
The first document was the proposed trust authorization Daniel already knew about.
His name appeared at the bottom.
Signature.
It looked remarkably close.
But wrong.
Daniel knew immediately.
“That isn’t mine.”
Andre nodded.
“I didn’t think so.”
Simone whispered:
“I never forged his signature.”
Andre turned a second page.
“Then explain this.”
It was not a trust document.
It was a preliminary petition prepared by another law firm.
Daniel read the heading.
Petition for Appointment of Additional Guardian of Minor Estate Interests.
His eyes moved down.
Proposed guardian:
Simone Bennett.
His throat tightened.
“Where did you get this?”
Andre replied:
“It was attached accidentally to correspondence sent from the other attorney’s office.”
Simone stood.
“That was never filed.”
Andre looked at her.
“I know.”
She turned toward Daniel.
“It was a draft.”
“Why does it exist?”
“I was exploring options.”
Andre said:
“Read page four.”
Daniel did.
Paragraphs of legal language.
Then one section.
The petition argued that Daniel’s demanding executive travel schedule might make him unable to provide consistent management of Lily’s financial interests.
Daniel looked up.
“You were going to tell a court I was unavailable?”
“No.”
“It says that.”
“It was language the attorney suggested.”
“Your attorney?”
“Someone I consulted.”
Andre’s face hardened.
“The petition also requests authority to approve certain distributions without Daniel’s additional signature.”
Daniel felt nauseated.
Simone said:
“It was to make things easier.”
Andre handed him another page.
“There’s more.”
Daniel almost laughed.
“Of course there is.”
A draft real-estate structure.
Briar Ridge property.
Purchase price $940,000.