Chapter 5 - The Attorney Steps In
It wasn't me who stopped her. A tall man in an immaculate, sharp charcoal suit had materialized from the front pew and stepped seamlessly between us. His grip on Vanessa’s wrist was polite, but undeniably made of iron.
“Ms. Vale,” the stranger said, his voice carrying a calm, chilling authority that demanded absolute attention. “I would strongly advise against striking my client a second time.”
Vanessa gasped in shock, violently yanking her arm free from his grasp. She rubbed her wrist, glaring at the man.
“Who the hell are you?” she demanded.
The man smoothly reached into the inner breast pocket of his jacket and produced a crisp, embossed business card, holding it out for her to read.
“Samuel Pierce. I am the estate attorney for the late Margaret Carter.”
The atmosphere in the chapel shifted instantly. The temperature seemed to drop ten degrees. I watched Richard carefully; his naturally ruddy complexion went noticeably pale. It was just a shade lighter, a microscopic falter in his composure, but I saw it clearly.
Vanessa looked frantically from the small card in Mr. Pierce’s hand to my face, her brow furrowing in deep confusion.
“Your client?” she sneered.
Mr. Pierce ignored her question and turned his body to face the packed room of mourners.
“I sincerely apologize for the interruption of these solemn proceedings,” Mr. Pierce announced, his voice projecting flawlessly. “However, since egregious accusations regarding the financial estate have already been made publicly today, Mrs. Carter’s explicit legal instructions were very clear on how to proceed.”
Richard stepped forward, his panic masking itself as righteous indignation.
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“Samuel, this is highly inappropriate. We explicitly agreed that the reading of the will would take place privately, in your office, after the burial.”
“No, Mr. Vale,” Mr. Pierce corrected him, adjusting his suit jacket. “You requested that arrangement. Margaret strictly declined it.”
