Julian reached under the mahogany desk, pulling out the black binder Sarah had kicked under the wood.
He sat down in his leather armchair, opening the leather cover to inspect the documents inside.
Brenda: Go ahead, read it! That power of attorney document was signed by father three weeks before he passed away!
Julian: My father was in a coma three weeks before he passed away, Brenda. His signature on this document is a complete forgery.
Brenda: Prove it! A notary certified that signature!
Sarah: Mr. Vance... look at the back envelope inside the binder sleeve. There's a sealed red wax stamp on it.
Julian turned to the back pocket of the binder, noticing a thick parchment envelope that had been tucked away behind the main probate folders.
Julian: What is this? I've never seen this envelope before.
Brenda: What envelope?! Give that to me!
Brenda tried to reach across the desk, but Sarah stepped in her path, blocking her with a firm stance.
Sarah: Stay right there, Brenda. Mr. Vance is reading his father's papers.
Julian broke the red wax seal, pulling out a handwritten letter written in dark blue ink. His eyes widened as he recognized his father's unmistakable handwriting.
Julian: "To my son, Julian. If you are reading this letter, it means Brenda has attempted to contest my final wishes..."
Brenda froze, her mouth dropping open as a sudden wave of panic washed over her face.
Brenda: That... that can't be real! Father was too sick to write anything!
Julian: "I am fully aware that my stepdaughter Brenda attempted to bribe my private physician to alter my medical charts. Attached to this letter is a high-definition video recording stored on a micro-SD card, proving her fraudulent actions..."
Sarah looked at Julian, her face filled with quiet realization.
Sarah: Your father knew she would try to take the estate after he was gone.
Julian: He recorded her, Sarah! He recorded her trying to force him to sign a fake will in his hospital room!
Brenda: Lies! All lies! He was confused! He didn't know what he was doing!
Julian: The letter continues: "In the event of any attempt by Brenda to harass Eleanor or force her way into the estate, all remaining conditional trusts allocated to her line are permanently dissolved and transferred to the Dallas Children's Hospital."
Brenda backed away toward the office door, clutching her designer handbag against her chest as if it could shield her from the truth.
Brenda: You're making that up! You wrote that letter yourself!
Julian: My father had this letter witnessed by two senior corporate attorneys and notarized by the Chief Justice of the County Court, Brenda. The original copy is held in a vault at Chase Bank downtown.
Sarah: You have nothing left, Brenda. The trust is gone, the inheritance is gone, and the police are on their way right now.
Brenda: Police?! Who called the police?!
Julian: I pressed the silent alarm under my desk the second I walked into this office five minutes ago.