“He filed a codicil.”

“This petition claims there are no known testamentary documents.”

I turned the page.

The verification signature was David Gable’s, as plain as a receipt.

“Your mother’s lawyer,” Thomas said.

“He filed this to get around probate.”

“He filed it to cut in line.” Thomas tapped the page.

“With a tired clerk and a Friday afternoon, sometimes the paper goes through before anybody checks.”