Free A Fortune to Die For (White Oak - Mafia Series Book 1) by Liza O'Connor Page A

years, Meg felt good about winning the lottery.

Chapter 5
     
    Tess, Helen, and Meg sat in the living room with its grand glass wall, securing the future of the trees before them. A speakerphone rested on the coffee table. The craggy old voice of Helen’s lawyer, Jonas Dunkin, came through it as he reviewed every page of the contract. The only thing he challenged was the price. When Helen informed him it was her number, he declared he had no other objections and would drive up right away to get it signed.
    A few hours later, a short, stout old man with bushy white hair and a pretty, young assistant, Amy, arrived for the signing.
    “Tess and Amy will sign as witnesses,” Jonas explained, as they sat around the coffee table.
    Helen shook her head. “I don’t want Tess involved. The family will skin her alive.”
    Jonas groaned and covered his face with his withered, old hands. Finally, he looked up at Helen. “I wish you would have mentioned you didn’t want her signing while we were on the phone because the contract requires two witnesses.”
    Helen laughed and patted his leg. “I know. It’s why I called down and asked for more groceries.”
    A red light bulb turned on at the hall door. “That should be our second signer. I’ll go get him.”
    She soon returned with Andy, and both copies of the documents were signed, witnessed, and notarized by the assistant.
    Jonas handed one copy to Meg with a stern glare. “If you need any extra help getting your plans for this land accepted by the state officials, let me know. I have connections.”
    Meg laughed. “In that case, I would like to hire you to help me.”
    Helen gripped his arm. “Before you say you aren’t taking new clients, I’m firing you, so you have an opening.”
    “The hell you are. You’ve opened a can of worms with this sale, as you are well aware. You’ll probably be occupying half my time for the next year. Therefore, I cannot take Miss Williams on as a client.” He then looked at Meg. “But I will give you the name of a lawyer with better connections and who has successfully helped a client donate their land to the state.”
    “I would greatly appreciate that,” Meg said.
    He opened his leather case and pulled out a paper list of contacts. He wrote a name and number on the back of his card and handed it to Meg. “Let him know I referred you.”
    His glare moved to Tess and Andy. “Now, neither of you are to say anything about this contract to anyone. Do I make myself clear?”
    Their heads bobbed in unison.
    Finally, he focused on Helen. “I’m having dinner with Judge Hathworth tomorrow, and you are coming as my date.”
    Helen’s eyebrows rose in challenge.
    He huffed and looked at Andy. “I imagine you have things to do.”
    Andy gulped, as if terrified of Jonas, and escaped with haste.
    Jonas then asked his assistant to wait in the car. However, when he stared at Tess, she crossed her arms. “I’m staying.”
    “I was about to say you two and Helen should hear about some of the potential problems that may result from this transaction.”
    Both Tess and Meg sat at once. “What problems?” Meg asked, annoyed he wouldn’t have discussed all issues before she signed the contract.
    Helen refused to sit. Instead, she put her groceries away and started lunch.
    “First of all, the sale is almost certainly to be contested.”
    “Can they do that?” Tess challenged. “It’s Gram’s property. Why should anyone else have a say?”
    “They will claim she is old and has lost the ability to make decisions and insist Miss Williams manipulated her into entering a contract Helen would not have signed if she were in her right mind.”
    “But none of that is true!” Tess yelled.
    “Well, I am old,” Helen said as she placed fresh fish on her kitchen grill.
    “That is why Helen is going to accompany me to dinner tomorrow. The judge will make a very credible witness to Helen’s state of mind given he was a psychiatrist before he