On the right were three copies of the order, all stamped, with December 15 typed at the bottom of every page.

“December 15 is the estate’s filing deadline,” I said.

“After that the trust locks under state audit for a year, and Marcus loses his fee.” She kept her hand on the lid.

“Expect him to move fast.”

“Fast how?”

“Fast like a man with a deadline and a lawyer’s imagination.”

I flipped the card over.

Inside the lid, stenciled in small white paint: 0114-C.