It was Evelyn, her silver hair pulled back in a neat bun, wearing her heavy wool shawl.

She looked older than she had months ago, but her eyes were bright and sharp.

“I told you they would fail, Emily,” Evelyn said.

Her voice was dry and calm, just as it had always been.

“Grandmother,” I said, stepping toward her.

“You should not have been staying in this cold house alone,” I added.

“It was the only place they did not look,” Evelyn said.

She walked to the kitchen table and sat down in one of the wooden chairs.

“They thought I was dead,” she said. “They were too busy counting my money to search the estate.”

Daniel stepped forward and bowed his head slightly.

“Good evening, Mrs. Vance,” Daniel said.

“You did well, Daniel,” Evelyn said, looking at him.

“You kept the financial records safe from Gavin’s lawyers.”

“I only did what was necessary,” Daniel said.

He opened his leather briefcase and placed a thick stack of papers on the wooden table.

“These are the certified copies of the court order,” Daniel said, tapping the documents.