She didn’t seem impressed when I said Patrick was my uncle and had once overseen half the branch.

“Being family doesn’t create authority,” she said.

“Neither does someone’s job title.

Bring in the documents that confirm your legal role, and we’ll go over what can be released.”

I went home feeling frustrated and, oddly, reassured.

It was the first time in days that anyone had refused to bend the rules because of the Callahan name.

Joanne had named me personal representative in a will held by a small local law firm.

The attorney, Daniel Brooks, met me the following afternoon.