“Gene told me not to let anybody near the back desks tonight.”

“Gene is an executor, not a circuit judge,” Howard said.

“If you deny legal access to next of kin during open business hours, I’ll file a contempt motion against the business before ten o’clock tomorrow morning.”

Tim stood silent for five seconds.

Then he reached under the counter, took a brass key ring off a metal hook, and headed for the back hallway.

The manager’s office smelled of motor oil, cardboard and cold coffee.