Chapter 8

The corner office of Vance, Sterling & Holbrook smelled of old bound volumes of the Illinois Supreme Court Reporter, dark mahogany polish, and rain.

Through the floor-to-ceiling windows on the forty-second floor, the lights of Chicago were beginning to blink on through the November mist. The Chicago River ran like a dark ribbon of slate below, flanked by the glowing steel canyons of the Loop.

Margaret sat in a green leather wingback chair across from Arthur Vance. A pot of Earl Grey tea rested on a silver tray between them, beside two tall bone china cups that had not been touched.

Spread across the blotter were four sets of legal documents, each bound with heavy blue backing paper and secured with brass grommets.

Arthur Vance adjusted his half-moon reading glasses and slid the first document forward.

"This is the Fourth Amendment and Complete Restatement of the Ellsworth Family Revocable Trust," Vance said, his finger tapping the signature block. "Section 4.2 specifically and irrevocably excludes Paul Ellsworth, his spouse, and their estates from any residual share of the principal, income, or administration of the trust assets."

Margaret picked up the silver Montblanc pen that had belonged to Harold. The weight of the pen was familiar in her hand. It was the same instrument Harold had used to sign the commercial leases, the plant expansions, and their anniversary cards for thirty years.