Chapter Thirty-four
The evidence of Herbert Rowbottom, chartered accountant to the stars, was exactly as the prosecutor had predicted in his opening address: it outlined in detail the financial reasons why the estate of Dr Cornelius Vandermeer would not proceed to probate. There was essentially nothing left, apart from some expensive clothes, an assortment of medical textbooks, and the jointly owned furniture of the marriage.
‘The value of such things in a second-hand market would barely cover the costs of an auction sale,’ Rowbottom announced. ‘A garage sale might raise a few dollars, perhaps,’ he concluded with an eyebrow raised in disdain.
‘Everything was rented or hired then?’ the prosecutor asked.
‘Almost everything. Perhaps he had some surgical equipment at the private hospital w
