He shot me a look that said he’d rather die.

Milton started in hard on Cam, asking about his estrangement with Art over the last decade. He then moved on to his return to Alba and painted a picture of Cam being an unstable drifter who couldn’t be depended on to stick around.

“On the contrary,” Cam argued. “I own property in Alba, have a voting membership in the Historical Society, and have two properties included in the district, one of which is projected to increase the income of the town by fifty percent. I’m in a committed relationship and recently offered my civil-engineering skills to the town’s electric company to upgrade Alba’s energy supply. The fact that I served in the military—as both my brothers also did—doesn’t make me a nomad.”

Milton flushed, and I almost fist pumped.

“What financial gain do you stand to receive in the event of Arthur Daniels’s death?” Milton asked, flipping through his file.

“I don’t understand the question,” Cam stated, his posture straight and his face relaxed.

“I mean that you’re pushing hard for a do-not-resuscitate order for a fifty-eight-year-old man. Isn’t it true that you stand to gain fifty percent of Arthur’s considerable land and financial holdings when he passes?” Milton’s insinuation sent a murmur through the crowd.

Judge Wilson looked over her glasses at Cam.

“I don’t stand to gain anything,” Cam stated.

“I’m sorry, but that’s just not true. His will states that you three receive equal shares, and since Sullivan has passed on, that leaves you and Xander at fifty percent.”

Cam blinked and looked at Simon.

“Your Honor, it appears Mr. Sanders is working off an older copy of Mr. Daniels’s will. If I could supply both him and the court with the valid copy?” Simon offered.

“Please do,” she responded.

Simon handed out the wills. “As you can see, this will is dated from five years ago, making it newer and therefore valid.”

“You prepared it!” Milton snapped. “How convenient.”

“It’s a small town, Your Honor.” Simon didn’t spare a glance for Milton. “It was actually my first document post–law school and was accepted by Judge Bradley.”

Judge Wilson flipped through the document. “This appears to be the valid will, Mr. Sanders.”

“As you can see, after the death of my younger brother, my father took me out of his will. Everything goes to Xander.” Cam stared at his brother.

Alexander was visibly shaken, his attention darting among Art, Cam, and the document in his hands.

“He didn’t know?” I asked.

“He didn’t,” Dad confirmed.

Milton gathered his thoughts quickly and conferred with Xander. Then he turned back to Cam. “Can you tell me about the bunkhouse fire?”

“Objection!” Simon snapped. “Immaterial!”

The crowd’s mutterings exploded.

“Order!” Judge Wilson demanded. “Keep it up, and we’ll close the courtroom.”