Mr. Sterling: I told you three years ago that hiding that document was a crime, David.
The old lawyer sat behind his large oak desk, his reading glasses resting on the tip of his nose as he looked at the brother and sister sitting across from him.
Sarah: We didn't come here for a lecture, Mr. Sterling! We need to know how Hannah found out about the document!
Mr. Sterling: She didn't find out today, Miss Vance. She knew about it three years ago.
David gasped, leaning forward over the desk.
David: What did you just say?
Mr. Sterling: Your father gave Hannah a certified copy of his final will three days before he passed away in the hospital.
Sarah: That's impossible! She never said a word when we filed the probate papers!
Mr. Sterling: Because she wanted to see if you two would do the right thing on your own.
David: She waited three years... just watching us?
Mr. Sterling: She hoped you would manage the estate honorably for the children, David. She told me she would only step in if you allowed Sarah to ruin the family trust or if you treated her children poorly.
Sarah stood up from her chair, her purse strap tight in her hand.
Sarah: That little rat was playing us the whole time!
Mr. Sterling: Sit down, Sarah! You have no standing to call anyone a rat in my office!
Sarah: You work for our family business!
Mr. Sterling: I worked for your father, an honest man who built an estate worth twenty million dollars from nothing. He would be deeply ashamed of how you treated his daughter-in-law today.
David: Did she come to your office today, Mr. Sterling?
Mr. Sterling: She called me from her car twenty minutes ago. She asked me to prepare the petition to revoke the probate of the fake will.
David: Is she filing it tomorrow?
Mr. Sterling: It is already filed electronically with the county clerk's office, David. As of four o'clock this afternoon, all family business accounts are frozen pending a full judicial audit.
Sarah's jaw dropped open in complete terror.
Sarah: Frozen?! My credit cards won't work?!
Mr. Sterling: Not a single one, Sarah. And the probate judge has issued a subpoena for all accounting records from the charity foundation for the past four years.
David: Oh God... we're going to jail.
Mr. Sterling: If the forensic accountants find evidence of wire fraud and embezzlement, David, the district attorney will file criminal charges against both of you.
Sarah: You're our lawyer! You have to defend us!
Mr. Sterling: I am the corporate counsel for Vance Enterprises, Sarah. I represent the trust, which is now legally controlled by Hannah. I cannot represent you in a criminal defense matter.
David buried his face in his hands, letting out a ragged groan of complete defeat.
David: I lost my wife, my children, and my freedom all in one afternoon.
Mr. Sterling: You lost them three years ago, David, when you chose your sister's lies over your wife's loyalty.