expansive porch wrapped around both sides, and on it were several colorful Adirondack chairs with cushions. I wanted to curl up on one of them, listen to the wild parrots, drift off, and take a nap.
Inside, the rooms were decorated in a relaxed tropical decor, including an enormous fish tank. My efforts at keeping fish alive were abysmal. I either overfed them, or underfed them. I hated looking in the bowl to find another one dead. Then the crucial decision of do I flush or do I bury?
The best part of coming to Whit’s office was the snack bowl that sat in the center of the coffee table, filled with candy, cookies, and crackers. Nearby was a small refrigerator which was always stocked with a dozen different kinds of sodas and bottled water.
I grabbed a bag of Oreos. Just looking at them made me feel better. I waved hello to Helena, Whit’s assistant, who was busy on the phone.
Helena smiled and waved me back to Whit’s office.
He looked up when I got to his door, stood up and came around his desk to kiss my cheek. “We lost Elizabeth way too soon. She was a good woman and well loved.”
“Thank you. I always liked to come to your office with my aunt. I went straight for the snack bowl, and then the refrigerator,” I laughed. “Just like always!”
“The snack bowl is the number one favorite among our clients. On the rare occasion when we run out, they complain loudly,” he laughed. “So, Madison, how can I help you?”
“I just came from a meeting with Tucker Davis and Will Todd, the manager of The Cottages.”
“Now there’s a sleazy pair.” Whit shook his head. “In my younger and more principled days, I’d never gossip, but I don’t like either one of them. I’m more than happy to help you with anything I can.”
“No wonder my aunt liked you so much,” I said.
“I’m sure you’re aware Elizabeth left me The Cottages. I went to the meeting today, and my plan was to start learning about the property. Tucker essentially told me to butt out. He even directed me to stay away from the property.”
“You’re kidding,” Whit said.
“No, I’m not. Tucker informed me probate could possibly take a year, and until everything was final he didn’t want me to even go to The Cottages. Zero involvement.”
“Tucker’s well within his capacity as executor to limit your access to the property, but why would he choose that tactic? He’s a smart lawyer, he should know he’d alienate future business dealings with you.”
“What’s your professional opinion of Tucker Davis?”
“He’s an a-hole,” Whit roared with laughter. “He has a questionable reputation personally and professionally. His clients are criminals able to pay his fees. The sad part is that he usually gets them off; his win record is near perfect. He thinks that somehow makes him legitimate. People around here think Tucker is as big a crook as those he represents. Although Tucker primarily handles criminal cases, he never turns away a client who can pay, no matter what the case.”
“Why would Elizabeth hire a criminal lawyer to draw up her will and then appoint him executor? He’s the reason why the funeral was a circus. He refused to allow any family involvement. He just kept saying Elizabeth left him in charge, and he was only following her wishes.”
“I was aware she used him to write her will, but making him executor came as a big surprise. She went to Tucker because her previous attorney retired, and I believe he referred her.”
“What do you know about Will Todd?”
“The first I heard of him was when Tucker called needing updated financial records. During the call, he told me he was named executor, and he also informed me Will Todd would be the new manager.”
“Interesting because, in today’s meeting, Tucker said Will had been acting as manager since before Elizabeth’s death. I wonder when exactly he was put in charge?”
“He informed me of the same thing. I didn’t believe it then, and I don’t
Inside, the rooms were decorated in a relaxed tropical decor, including an enormous fish tank. My efforts at keeping fish alive were abysmal. I either overfed them, or underfed them. I hated looking in the bowl to find another one dead. Then the crucial decision of do I flush or do I bury?
The best part of coming to Whit’s office was the snack bowl that sat in the center of the coffee table, filled with candy, cookies, and crackers. Nearby was a small refrigerator which was always stocked with a dozen different kinds of sodas and bottled water.
I grabbed a bag of Oreos. Just looking at them made me feel better. I waved hello to Helena, Whit’s assistant, who was busy on the phone.
Helena smiled and waved me back to Whit’s office.
He looked up when I got to his door, stood up and came around his desk to kiss my cheek. “We lost Elizabeth way too soon. She was a good woman and well loved.”
“Thank you. I always liked to come to your office with my aunt. I went straight for the snack bowl, and then the refrigerator,” I laughed. “Just like always!”
“The snack bowl is the number one favorite among our clients. On the rare occasion when we run out, they complain loudly,” he laughed. “So, Madison, how can I help you?”
“I just came from a meeting with Tucker Davis and Will Todd, the manager of The Cottages.”
“Now there’s a sleazy pair.” Whit shook his head. “In my younger and more principled days, I’d never gossip, but I don’t like either one of them. I’m more than happy to help you with anything I can.”
“No wonder my aunt liked you so much,” I said.
“I’m sure you’re aware Elizabeth left me The Cottages. I went to the meeting today, and my plan was to start learning about the property. Tucker essentially told me to butt out. He even directed me to stay away from the property.”
“You’re kidding,” Whit said.
“No, I’m not. Tucker informed me probate could possibly take a year, and until everything was final he didn’t want me to even go to The Cottages. Zero involvement.”
“Tucker’s well within his capacity as executor to limit your access to the property, but why would he choose that tactic? He’s a smart lawyer, he should know he’d alienate future business dealings with you.”
“What’s your professional opinion of Tucker Davis?”
“He’s an a-hole,” Whit roared with laughter. “He has a questionable reputation personally and professionally. His clients are criminals able to pay his fees. The sad part is that he usually gets them off; his win record is near perfect. He thinks that somehow makes him legitimate. People around here think Tucker is as big a crook as those he represents. Although Tucker primarily handles criminal cases, he never turns away a client who can pay, no matter what the case.”
“Why would Elizabeth hire a criminal lawyer to draw up her will and then appoint him executor? He’s the reason why the funeral was a circus. He refused to allow any family involvement. He just kept saying Elizabeth left him in charge, and he was only following her wishes.”
“I was aware she used him to write her will, but making him executor came as a big surprise. She went to Tucker because her previous attorney retired, and I believe he referred her.”
“What do you know about Will Todd?”
“The first I heard of him was when Tucker called needing updated financial records. During the call, he told me he was named executor, and he also informed me Will Todd would be the new manager.”
“Interesting because, in today’s meeting, Tucker said Will had been acting as manager since before Elizabeth’s death. I wonder when exactly he was put in charge?”
“He informed me of the same thing. I didn’t believe it then, and I don’t
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