“Baby girl’s losing it,” Kit concurred. “We’ve got to do something before the Fairbanks get here. Twenty minutes is too long to keep her waiting when…”

Kit was interrupted as Jenny put herself between Alice and her next turn. Putting her hand on Alice’s arm, Jenny simply stood with her a moment, empathically drawing some of Alice’s raw energy into herself, before guiding her into the seat between Bette and Helena.

“This is so fucked up.” Alice practically spit the words into the room. “I would never have come if I’d known Sharon and Irwin were behind this.”

“Trust me, young lady, we weren’t,” Sharon said as they swept into the room with a suit who could only be their attorney. The group was escorted by Stephanie Tate, the lawyer Dana hired to handle her estate.

Stephanie began by framing the nature of their gathering, explaining that Dana had instructed her to become involved exactly six months after her death if, and only if, certain benchmarks in probating her will had not been met.

“To date, as I understand it, there still has been no formal reading, no inventory of assets, and no disbursements, other than Ms. Pieszecki’s most recent living expenses and your firm’s monthly retainer. Is that correct?”  She directed her question to the suit, who cleared his throat before nodding in the affirmative.

Dana’s friends looked from Stephanie Tate to the suit and back, feeling very much like they were in the stands of one of Dana’s matches.

“And the courts have just denied both your motion for an injunction and your appeal? Too little, too late, as I interpret the ruling.” Again, the suit cleared his throat and nodded.

“Then I’ll make it official. On behalf of the estate of Dana Fairbanks, you and your firm, sir, are discharged,” Stephanie waited for him to leave. The suit remained seated.

“Mrs. Fairbanks and I would like Mr. Bennett to stay and represent our interests,” Irwin said, his dejection on open display.

“I have no objection. We will now proceed with the reading. Ms. Fairbanks asked that I begin by giving you this note.” She slid a card Alice recognized as Dana’s favorite personalized stationary to Sharon. On it were written nine words, clearly legible.