“That’s another name for it,” said Rifkin. “I can tell you all this because we don’t represent him and nothing’s confidential. In fact, he became our adversary, has threatened to sue us numerous times.”

“Over what?”

“Over he needs money and thinks Leona will give it to him if he makes enough noise.”

“Who represents him?”

“No one. He files his own paper, thinks he’s smarter than everyone else. Needless to say, he gets wiped out every time.”

“Likes to think he’s a lawyer.”

“And a stockbroker and a financial advisor and a freelance investor, you name it. Prior to the house being sold, he was trying to syndicate the sale of an island off Belize, lost everything he put into it. He’s been married four times, no kids, is basically broke and stuck in a one-bedroom in South Pas. Sad, but it’s his own doing. Leona has tried to be fair, offered to set up a trust for him managed by professionals, so he can build up a little net worth. He accuses her of trying to control him. She’s never taken a cent as executor, has been scrupulous about everything being divvied up fifty-fifty. Which brings me back to my original point: It was Charlie who spearheaded selling the properties. That’s why his bitching about it is so crazy.”

“Leona didn’t want to sell?”

“Absolutely not. Her idea was to keep everything in trust for future generations. Set up a separate management account to take care of expenses.”

“But Charlie has no kids, so he figured she was bypassing him for her heirs.”

“I understand that objection,” said Rifkin. “But it’s not as if Charlie wasn’t making money from Borodi. The house was renting out at twenty grand a month, and after tax and management fees, he was still netting six figures.”

“Who were the tenants?”

“Various industry people needing temporary quarters during shoots. Not stars—producers, directors. Payments came directly out of the film budgets, everything was smooth until Charlie started dropping in at the house and demanding to see if they were keeping it up to his specifications. Needless to say, no one wanted to put up with that, so bye-bye studio rental deals. Which Charlie needed a lot more than Leona. Whatever he gets hold of slips right through his fingers.”

“So he agitated to sell.”