Then Pierce asked the question he had obviously rehearsed with her.
“Mrs.
Carter, did your son ever tell you he wanted Mrs.
Hayes to own this property?”
“No,” Evelyn said immediately.
“Did he ever tell you he intended to transfer it?”
“Never.”
“And based on your relationship with him, would he normally have discussed a major decision like that with you?”
Evelyn pressed the handkerchief to the corner of one eye.
“Absolutely.”
Pierce sat down.
“Your witness.”
He said it casually.
That was the moment I finally understood how little Evelyn had told them about me.
For years she had introduced me to acquaintances as someone who had “worked for the government overseas.” Sometimes she called it administrative work.
Sometimes she did not bother mentioning it at all.
Frank knew better.
Anna knew better.
Evelyn had never once cared enough to ask.
I stood.
“Mrs.
Carter, when was the last time you visited Frank at our home before the deed was signed?”
Evelyn frowned.
“I visited my son frequently.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
Pierce looked up.
Judge Bennett did too.
I repeated it.
“When was the last time you visited him at our home before the deed was signed?”
“I don’t remember the exact date.”
“Was it within a week?”
“I said I don’t remember.”
“Within a month?”
Her mouth tightened.
“Possibly.”
I removed one page from my folder.
“You stated in your sworn filing that you were with Frank constantly during this period, correct?”
“Yes.”
“But you cannot identify a single visit in the month before execution of the deed?”
Pierce stood.
“Argumentative.”
“Sustained,” Judge Bennett said.
I nodded.
“Mrs.
Carter, were you present when Frank signed the deed?”
“No.”
“Did you speak to him that day?”
“No.”
“Did you speak to anyone who was present before filing this lawsuit?”
Evelyn hesitated.
“No.”
“Did you review his medical records from that day?”
“No.”
“Did any doctor tell you Frank lacked legal capacity?”
Pierce rose again.
Evelyn answered before he could object.
