Page 35 of Three Steps Behind

“So how can I be of assistance?” Lindsay pulled over a legal pad and grabbed a pen from the cup in the center of the table.

Harper rested her forearms on the shiny wooden tabletop. “Our big question is whether Nick knew about Taylor filing for divorce.”

“Yes.” Lindsay tapped the pad with her pen. “Taylor signed the paperwork. Nick refused.”

“Refused?”

Lindsay nodded. “Nick’s lawyer, who is a piece of work, called to say if Taylor was going to divorce him, then they were going to fight the prenup.”

“On what grounds?” Deck asked.

“They claimed Taylor was having an affair.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Harper said. “She adored Nick. My guess is she was only ready to divorce because of his infidelity.”

A look she couldn’t quite define crossed Lindsay’s face, but the woman quickly smoothed her wrinkled brow. “If the prenup got circumvented, then Nick could claim everything the prenup covered as his.” The pen bounced louder off the pad. “Unless . . .”

Harper scooched forward a little more, nearly slipping off the chair. “Unless?” She reversed, resting against the back of the chair.

“Taylor had a will, but it only covers what she owned in her name.”

“But knowing Taylor, that’s a lot. Unless she left Nick everything in the will or the prenup is demolished, he stands to lose nearly everything—properties, boats, investments.” Plenty of reason for a man who no longer loved his wife to consider doing away with her. “I still can’t believe Nick is claiming Taylor was unfaithful. She did all she could to make their marriage work.”

“You know that, and I know that,” Lindsay said, “but it’s up to the presiding judge to decide.”

“So now what?”

Lindsay sighed, dropping her pen. “Now I hold a reading of the will. And she changed it a few months before her death.”

“Probably when she discovered Nick was having an affair.” It lined up with when Taylor confided in Harper before her trip.

“I can guarantee Nick will contest it.”

“Why?” Harper asked. “She didn’t leave him what he’ll feel he deserves?”

“She didn’t leave him anything.”

Harper’s jaw slacked. “Nothing?”

“Nothing.”

“When is the reading of the will?”

“Today.” Lindsay looked at the clock. “In about an hour.”

“Can I call you afterward? Just to hear Nick’s reaction so we know what we’re dealing with? It goes to motive.” Possibly. If Nick inherited nothing and he knew it, then he had no motive to kill her. “Did Nick know about the will change?”

“Not that I’m aware.”

Harper crossed her legs, bumping her knee on the underside of the table. “So he still thinks he’s inheriting a lot.”

“That would be my supposition.” Lindsay nodded.

“Can you tell us who she left the money to?” Steve, probably.

“Afraid not, but Steve and Susan are coming in for it. I assume you know Taylor’s brother and his wife?”

“We do.” Deck rested his forearms on the table and interlocked his fingers.