Kent Monroe said, laying an arm on the edge of Asher’s desk as he leaned forward in earnestness. “It’s all I have to leave her, you see. My young partner at the pharmacy is making semiannual payments on the buy-in, but upon my death, everything having to do with the business goes to him.” Asher nodded. It was standard practice for partnerships, particularly if one of the partners carried a heavier load in conducting the business, as Asher assumed Monroe’s younger partner did. Certainly the man had made no complaint when Asher had stepped into the pharmacy Friday morning to ask Kent for a word in the privacy of his office down the street. “So the renovations were in aid of assuring the integrity of your granddaughter’s inheritance,” he said, intentionally suggesting a valid argument in support of their case. “Just so,” Mr. Monroe confirmed. “And you paid for those renovations with the funds from the buy-in?” Asher asked hopefully. Monroe shifted back in his chair, letting his hands fall onto his knees.
