tell me.”
“I didn’t trust you.”
“Fair.”
For the first time, Vance looked uncertain.
Then sirens sounded in the distance.
His men glanced toward the road.
Vance turned.
One of the SUVs accelerated away.
The other remained.
Federal vehicles appeared through the trees.
Vance did not run.
Instead, he smiled.
“That still doesn’t solve your trust problem.”
Melissa frowned.
“What?”
He reached inside his jacket.
Agents shouted.
“Hands!”
Vance slowly withdrew a folded document.
The original amendment.
“If Rachel is Samuel’s child, she has a claim.”
“Yes.”
“And Ava has another.”
“Yes.”
He looked at me.
“But there is a third branch.”
My heart skipped.
“What?”
Vance smiled.
“Ask Dorothy.”
Everyone turned.
My wife looked confused.
Then horrified.
“No.”
Vance laughed softly.
“You never told them?”
Dorothy whispered, “That’s impossible.”
“What is?” I asked.
Vance looked at me.
“Samuel wasn’t your only son.”
PART 7 — THE LAST BENEFICIARY
Federal agents
