“No, Your Honor.”
“Were you aware that the injuries described as accidental falls were allegedly connected to physical confrontations involving your client and his wife?”
Curtis’s jaw tightened.
“No.”
Daniel leaned forward.
“That’s not fair. He knew there were family disagreements.”
Curtis turned toward him.
“Daniel.”
One word.
Sharp.
A warning.
Daniel stopped.
I opened my last folder.
“This is where the guardianship petition stops being the worst part.”
Vanessa closed her eyes.
She knew.
Daniel did not.
That interested me.
I handed the clerk a transaction report.
“For forty years, Robert and I maintained our primary accounts with North Continental Bank. After Robert died, Daniel offered to help me organize paperwork.”
“I was helping you!” he snapped.
Judge Mercer looked at him.
Daniel fell silent.
“Six weeks after Robert’s funeral,” I continued, “someone attempted to add Daniel as joint owner of my high-yield savings account.”
Curtis looked toward his client.
Daniel stared at me.
