“How quickly can we file?” I asked, looking at the scanned signature of my late husband on the screen.

“I am uploading the emergency injunction right now,” Nora said.

She didn’t look up from her monitor.

“The court has an electronic filing system for expedited motions,” she explained. “Because we are alleging active fraud and the dissipation of estate assets, we can bypass the usual waiting period.”

“I’ll contact Judge Miller’s clerk,” Richard said, turning back from the window. “Let them know an emergency filing of high public interest is entering the queue.”

“Will that help?” I asked.

“It will ensure it doesn’t sit on a clerk’s desk until tomorrow morning,” Richard said. “We need this frozen today.”

I watched Nora’s screen as she scrolled through pages of legal text.

She clicked a blue button labeled ‘Submit.’

A small green checkmark appeared in the center of her monitor.

“It’s in the system,” Nora said, leaning back and rubbing her temples. “Now we wait.”

Mrs. Alvarez came into the study a few minutes later, carrying a tray with hot tea and a plate of small sandwiches.