Winter House by Carol O'Connell Page A

will myself. Her estate goes to the Legal Aid Society.“
    „I know there’s a family trust fund.“ Mallory’s tone implied that she had caught the old man in a lie.
    „My daughter has no stake in that. The only beneficiaries are her mother and her uncle.“
    „And Nedda Winter?“
    The old man nodded.
    „Tell me why your daughter doesn’t benefit from the trust fund.“
    It took a moment for Sheldon Smyth to adjust to the fact that he was not in control of this interview. He graced her with a radiant smile – an experiment that immediately failed. She had a natural immunity to charisma, and this seemed to irritate him. The old man made a great show of looking at his wristwatch, and he would not meet her eyes when he spoke. „I can’t discuss the trust fund with you.“ He addressed the empty chair on the other side of the table. „It’s privileged information. I can tell you that Bitty doesn’t need a. draw on the trust. I provide her with a generous allowance.“
    „That’s not what I asked.“ Mallory leaned forward and raised her voice, as if the old man might be hard of hearing. „So, apart from you, her only source of income is her law practice?“
    Charles sat up a bit straighter. „Bitty? A lawyer?“
    „Yes, my daughter was top of her class at Columbia.“ The old man misunderstood Charles’s startled expression. „Of course, I wanted her to go to Harvard, but she preferred to stay close to home.“
    Mallory called Smyth’s attention back to herself. „Where does your daughter practice law, and what’s her area of expertise?“
    „She used to work for my firm, but now she’s on sabbatical. She’s always concentrated on contract law.“
    „Would that include trust-fund busting?“
    „You can’t mean the Winter family trust.“ Smyth was incredulous. „What would be the point if she didn’t – “
    „I need copies of all the documents for that trust fund,“ said the detective. „I want them today.“
    „Got a warrant, Detective?“ Smyth seemed suddenly cheered by Mallory ‘s prolonged quiet. „No,“ he said, „I didn’t think so.“
    „You’re the executor,“ said Mallory. „You can give me any – “
    „That trust fund has a long history. The documents – every bill and receipt and canceled check, paperwork for decades of transactions – it fills a good-size storage room.“ He leaned toward her with new confidence. „It would take a small army to copy all that paperwork, and the originals will never leave my firm.“
    „Did I mention that I was trying to keep your daughter alive?“
    „And were you listening when I said there was no motive for anyone to harm her?“
    „It’s my job to decide that,“ said Mallory. „You’re only a lawyer. I’m the law“
    Sheldon Smyth inclined his head and smiled, perhaps in agreement with this distinction, but more likely in approval, a sudden change in his opinion of this young adversary. „Detective Mallory, I can give you the basic structure of the trust. Cleo Winter-Smyth and her brother are entitled to a monthly draw.“
    „And Nedda,“ said Mallory, reminding him once more of this woman’s existence. „She could also be a target. So if she dies – “
    „It doesn’t change the amount of the draw. You should also know that the trust fund is entailed to charity. The payouts end with Lionel and Cleo’s generation.“
    „And Nedda,“ said Mallory. „You keep forgetting her.“
    Sheldon Smyth dropped his smile and laid his napkin on the table. „I think we’re done here, Detective. Talk to my secretary if you need more information. She’ll schedule an appointment.“ And now, because he must sense that she did not take direction very well, he added, „I’m afraid we ‘re boring poor Charles with all of this.“
    After Mallory had kicked him under the table, Charles was encouraged to say, „Oh, no, sir. This is fascinating.“
    „Well, Charles,“ said Smyth, „if that’s the case, I suggest you have