“Is the vote happening?” I asked.

“They are reading the resolution now,” she said.

“I’m holding the phone near the speaker so you can hear.”

I heard static, then the dry, resonant voice of Arthur Pendelton.

He was the senior board member of the Callahan corporate empire.

“Under Section Four of the Callahan Family Trust bylaws,” Pendelton read.

“Any individual found to have obtained beneficiary status through fraud is stripped of all authority.”

My hand gripped the phone until my knuckles turned white.

“Furthermore,” Pendelton continued, “the shares held by Victoria Callahan are hereby suspended.”

“The board recognizes the ongoing federal investigation into her actions,” he said.

The room on the other end of the line was completely silent.

“We have received the validated birth certificate and DNA records,” Pendelton said.

“These documents pertain to the infant daughter of Natalie Callahan.”

“As the sole biological descendant of Thomas Callahan, she is recognized as the sole heir.”

I let out a long breath.

“A vote is called to ratify this resolution,” Pendelton said.

“All in favor?”

A chorus of “Aye” echoed through the phone.

“Any opposed?”