The Heir Refuses the Water

How it begins

Harriet had helped people claim fortunes, divide fortunes and pretend not to have fortunes.

Leo West was the first person to ask her to make one go away.

"All of it?" she said.

"Every share."

"The house?"

"Especially the house."

"The house has an indoor orchard."

"I've never understood why."

Harriet closed the estate schedule.

Across the conference table, Leo sat in a suit that fit too well to support his apparent dislike of money. A plain glass of tap water stood untouched beside him.

"Renouncing an inheritance is possible. Renouncing a controlling interest in a regulated utility is more complicated."

"How complicated?"

"How much do you like your family?"

He considered the question.

"Professionally or personally?"

She opened the schedule again.

The West estate contained hotels, art, several astonishingly unprofitable vineyards and the company responsible for supplying water to eighteen thousand people.

Harriet turned a page.

"Your father's will appoints a replacement beneficiary if you refuse."

"My cousin."

"Who intends to sell."

Leo looked at the water.

"Yes."

"Then walking away won't solve what you think it solves."

For the first time, he appeared relieved.

"That's why I came."

Outside the meeting room, Harriet's assistant knocked on the glass and held up a note.

A woman from Bell Street is here. Says the water stopped.

Harriet read it twice.

Bell Street was where her mother lived.

She stood.

"This consultation is over for the moment."

Leo stood too.

"Let me help."

"With what?"

"Whatever my family has done."

She looked at him for a long second.

Then she handed him the untouched glass.

"Start by finding out why you have this and she doesn't."

He took it without arguing.

Harriet was not ready to trust him.

She was, however, interested to see whether he would carry it all the way downstairs.