Irrevocable Trust (Sasha McCandless Legal Thriller Book 6) (13 page)

“
Hypothetically, what happens if I were to decline the appointment?
”
she asked in a measured tone.

“
That
’
s easy. The probate court appoints someone else to act in your stead. Probably a relative.
”

“
Marsh, the only living relative those kids have is their father.
”

He shook his head.
“
I
’
m afraid you
’
re mistaken. Allison said their father wasn
’
t in the picture. I asked if they were divorced and she said no. Obviously, he predeceased her.
”

“
No,
you
’
re
mistaken. Allison Bennett was living under an assumed name. The father of her six minor children is very much alive. In fact, I
’
m fairly certain he
’
s the one who killed her.
”

She
’
d always thought
‘
his eyes bulged out
’
was just an expression, but Marsh
’
s looked like they really were going to pop right out of his head.

“
What?!
”

“
Allison Bennett, formerly known as Anna Bricker, was the estranged wife of Jeffrey Bricker and the star witness for the prosecution at his trial for murder and conspiracy to commit murder. She entered into the witness protection program with her kids, and they all got new identities. But, it appears that Bricker found them.
”

Marsh
’
s chest heaved.

She leaned back in her chair just in case he was about to vomit.

“
Bricker? The escaped felon?
”

“
That
’
s the one.
”

“
I can
’
t
…
Were they divorced?
”
His cadence changed from blindsided to intrigued almost instantly.

“
Pardon?
”

“
Did Anna Bricker divorce her husband before she became Allison Bennett?
”

“
I don
’
t know. I doubt it. Everything happened really fast. Why?
”

His gray pallor faded, replaced by an excited flush, and he leaned forward.

“
Because if she didn
’
t, you just landed smack in the middle of a major case of first impression. This is the stuff of law review articles. Imagine the complexity, Sasha. Did his rights to inherit terminate automatically when she took on a new identity? If not, what effect does Allison Bennett
’
s will have on Anna Bricker
’
s husband? And even beyond the estate issues, this raises novel issues of family law. Does Jeffrey Bricker have any rights to his children? If not, why not.
”

He actually bounced in his seat, buoyed by the thought of sinking his teeth into such a juicy legal morass.

“
I
’
m glad you find it so interesting, Marsh. As trustee, I gladly accept your offer to represent the children
’
s interests in any litigation arising out of the situation. On a pro bono basis, of course.
”

The gleam in his eye dimmed slightly.
“
Pro bono? I
’
ll be glad to handle the case, but I don
’
t think Prescott
’
s going to let me do it for free.
”

“
Make it happen, Marsh. Unless you want to explain to a judge how you failed to satisfy yourself that the documents
you
drafted adequately protected your client
’
s interests.
”

She drained her coffee and returned the mug to the bar with a
thud.

“
Thanks for the drink,
”
she said over her shoulder as she breezed past him and out of the espresso shop.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Cole rubbed his forehead and stared. Cardboard boxes were strewn from one end of the rental house to the other. Bubble wrap and packing peanuts littered the floor, ankle-deep in spots. Butcher paper wound its way along the banister leading to the second floor.

Brianna walked toward him from the back of the house, wading through packing materials. She held a bottle of fancy, organic juice in each hand.

“
Want one?
”
She shoved a strawberry/cherry concoction into his hand.

“
Where did this come from?
”

“
Whole Foods. Calla said she wanted juice. Hank took her to the store and they came back with all sorts of stuff.
”

“
What
’
s all this?
”
He gestured to the mess.

“
Hank said we needed some basics.
”
She shrugged and took a swig of her peach/pineapple/orange smoothie.

He worked his jaw and tried to get a handle on his anger.

“
We
’
re not staying here,
”
he finally managed.

She shrugged again.
”
I guess you should talk to Hank.
”

“
Where is he?
”

“
Upstairs helping the boys pick out bedrooms.
”

He pushed the juice back into her hands and ran up the stairs, taking them two at a time, as bubble wrap popped under his feet.

“
Be quiet,
”
she called after him.
“
Leah
’
s putting Calla down for a nap up there.
”

He skidded to a stop outside one of the four bedrooms on the second floor and peered inside. Hank
’
s big hands gripped one end of a measuring tape. Across the room, Mark held the other end while Hal squatted and peered at the numbers, as if he actually understood what they meant.

Mark looked up and made an
‘
o
’
of surprise with his mouth when he saw Cole, breathing heavily, standing in the doorway.

“
Oh, hey. We
’
re trying to figure out if the bunk beds will fit in here,
”
he said.

Bunk beds?

“
Great. Hey, can I talk to Uncle Hank for a minute?
”

Hank must have heard the tightness in his voice. He retracted the measuring tape carefully and handed it to Mark.

“
Why don
’
t you guys measure the windows while I talk to your brother?
”

He smiled at Hal and strolled casually out into the hallway.

Cole jerked his head toward the bathroom, and Hank followed him into the long, narrow bathroom. It was old but well-kept, with gleaming white subway tiles lining the floor and the walls.

“
Something wrong, son?
”
Hank asked, leaning against the sink.

“
Yeah, something
’
s wrong. Why are you setting us up here like we
’
re staying. This is temporary, remember? We can
’
t afford all this stuff just for a couple nights
’
stay.
”
He tried to control the quaking in his voice but failed.

He actually had no idea what their money situation was. He needed to remember to ask Sasha.

Hank placed a strong hand on his shoulder.
“
Listen to me now. This
is
just temporary, but while you
’
re here sorting out your mom
’
s estate with Sasha, it
’
s important that you all live as normally as possible. You
’
ve been through enough. Don
’
t go worrying about the cost. It
’
s on Uncle Sam.
”

Cole exhaled.
“
Sorry.
”

Hank patted his arm.
“
No apologies needed. You
’
re just doing your job as the head of the family, taking care of everyone. I get it. But I
’
m here to help you, don
’
t forget that.
”

Cole nodded and blinked back the tears that were building behind his eyes. He didn
’
t trust himself to speak.

After a moment, Hank said,
“
Come on. You can help us set up the bedrooms.
”

Cole watched Hank stride out of the bathroom and found himself standing up a little straighter, mimicking the man
’
s confident posture.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Sasha huffed in frustration and blew her hair out of her eyes, disturbing Java
’
s nap. The cat squinted at her in displeasure before shifting to a more comfortable position on her lap.

Connelly looked over from the kitchen and caught her eye.

“
Everything okay?
”
he asked, dividing his attention between her and the sourdough he was kneading for bread.

She glanced down at the papers in her hands and tried to frame her answer.

“
Not really. Anna Bricker, or Allison Bennett, or whatever you want to call her
—
she tried to put everything in order, but this is a mess.
”

She delivered the news matter-of-factly. She didn
’
t want to panic Connelly, but the reality was what it was. Marsh
’
s ecstatic reaction aside, the situation was not good.

He abandoned his dough, wiped his hands on a dish towel, and walked around the kitchen island. He crouched near Sasha
’
s chair.

“
What kind of mess?
”
he asked.

“
The worst kind. Marsh said he called around and located an attorney up near their old house who prepared wills for Jeffrey and Anna Bricker back in 2004. So she has two wills
—
one in her old name, one in her new name. I don
’
t even
…
I have no idea
—
is the first will invalidated? She left everything to Bricker in the old will. Everything goes into trust for the kids in the new one. She has an old health care power of attorney and an old financial power of attorney, both naming Bricker as her fiduciary agent. Anna Bricker made these documents, but are they binding on Allison Bennett? Well, the health care power of attorney is irrelevant because she
’
s dead now. But that financial power of attorney might have an effect on the irrevocable trust. I mean, maybe not. I don
’
t know. And I
have
to know, don
’
t I? I
’
m the freaking trustee.
”
She waved the papers at him.
“
Understand?
”

Connelly tilted his head and furrowed his forehead.

“
Do I understand? Are you kidding me? No. I have no clue what you
’
re talking about.
”

She huffed again. This time, Java mewed at her and jumped to the floor. He walked away haughtily.

“
Never mind, just take care of your bread. I
’
ll talk to Will and Marsh in the morning. They
’
ve been holed up poring over every estate decision published since the eighteen hundreds.
”

Connelly grabbed her hand.
“
Talking to Will and that Prescott guy sounds like a good idea. But will you please try to explain just a little bit? I
’
m worried about those kids.
”