A grin lifted my cheeks at the sight of the garment bag in her hand. I’d left the dress color and style up to Margaret. While no one had seen Julia’s dress, Margaret at least knew the decorations and what Julia was thinking. All I’d been told was to arrive in a suit. No tuxedo.
Julia wanted simple.
I clicked on the message. The final last will and testament of Herman Wade was filed with the probate court following his passing. Previous copies weren’t made public.
The copy that had been filed was identical to the one being contested. I’d read through it before. Again, I skimmed over the scanned pages. Nothing appeared out of place. Nothing jumped out at me.
The executor named was an official at a law firm in Chicago.
Shit, it was Saturday morning, but I gave it a try. A quick search and I had the number of the law firm.
“Cobbs and Wilson,” a woman’s voice said.
“Hello. I’m looking for a Stephen McCook. Is he still a member of your firm?”
“No, I’m sorry. He’s no longer with us. May I be of some assistance?”
“I’m looking into my wife’s grandfather’s last will and testament. Mr. McCook was the named executor.”
“Yes,” the woman said, “Mr. McCook handled those duties many years ago.”
“Is there anyone I could speak to today who may be knowledgeable regarding Mr. McCook’s work?”
“Perhaps if you told me the name of the deceased.”
“Herman Wade. It would involve the estate of Herman and Juliette Wade,” I replied.
“I’m sorry. I missed your name and your wife’s name.”
“Donovan Sherman. My wife’s maiden name was Julia McGrath.” I was a few hours early in proclaiming her as my wife. That didn’t stop me.
“Sir, I can only tell you what I told the last person inquiring about this document. Mr. McCook filed Mr. Wade’s will with the probate court as required by law.”
“Was there anything odd about his filing? Why are you receiving multiple inquiries ten years later?”
“Sir, Mr. McCook is no longer available for consult. We’ve provided all the requested documents to Abbott and Jones. As I told them, we have no documents prior to the final will.”
“Does that mean that your firm only worked with Mr. Wade on his final will and testament?”
“It means we have nothing dating before his final will.”
“Could you tell me,” I asked, “the date Mr. Wade signed his will?”
“Sir, that is public record.”
“You’re right. Thank you for your time.”
I shook my head as I pulled the PDF up on my screen. On my other screen, I pulled up Herman Wade’s obituary.
Herman Wade passed away surrounded by family on April 16…
“Shit,” I said to no one. “He signed his will the day before he died.”
I sent a message to Leonard asking for him to have his team dig into Herman Wade’s records and determine if he had personal legal counsel prior to the firm of Cobbs and Wilson. The answer came back:
Previous documents were underwritten by the legal department at Wade Pharmaceutical. The last filing prior to the will with Cobbs and Wilson was signed by Logan Butler.
As the phone on my desk rang, I replied:Find out who the plaintiff is who hired Abbott and Jones to contest Herman Wade’s last will and testament.