“No further questions on that,” Janet said. “Your Honor, one final item. Article Seven of the will.”
She held up a page.
“‘My mother’s silver cross, with a small notch in the lower arm, I give to my granddaughter Michelle, to pass to her firstborn child.'”
She turned to Anders.
“Dr. Treadwell, would you hand the cross to the bailiff?”
Anders lifted the chain over his head.
The bailiff carried it to the bench like it might break.
Judge Kroll turned it over under the lamp.
He found the notch with his thumb, and he was quiet for a long moment.
“Mr. Gilchrist,” he said at last. “Where is Kieran?”
My father’s mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
“Forty-one miles, Your Honor,” Anders said, standing. “I was always forty-one miles away.”
Nobody in that courtroom breathed.
“Mr. Gilchrist, I am removing you as trustee, effective immediately. The trust assets will be distributed to Dr. Anders Treadwell, whom this court finds to be the beneficiary under Article Four. You and your wife will be surcharged for every dollar spent on your personal property, with interest, and I am referring the entire file to the county prosecutor and to disciplinary counsel for Mr. Danforth.”
