It was the voice she used when she wanted to negotiate a discount at an auction.

“We can talk about this,” she said.

“There is nothing to talk about,” I said.

“There is always something to talk about,” Victoria insisted.

She took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling quickly under her coat.

“You want the trailer,” she said. “You want the land.”

“That land belongs to me,” I said. “Garrett bought it for us.”

“We can give you the deed,” Charles offered quickly, leaning forward.

“Charles, keep your mouth shut,” Victoria commanded, though she didn’t disagree.

She looked at me, her eyes calculating, running numbers behind her brow.

“We can do much better than just the deed,” Victoria said.

She walked slowly toward the desk, keeping her hands where I could see them.

“You’re an old woman, Eleanor,” she said.

“You have no savings,” she said. “No pension.”

“Even if you take this to court, it will take years to resolve,” she argued.

“The lawyers will eat up every dollar left in the estate,” she said.