Donny looked at the worn cover of his copy, and was reminded it was three years old. The fact that each edition cost several hundred bucks was no excuse, especially when the rules were also available online for free.

“I didn’t receive this notice, Your Honor,” said Donny. The more accurate thing to say was that he had not seen it.

“We have a file-stamped copy right here showing that you did,” said the judge. “And you also got a copy of what was filed last night. It’s a shame that you weren’t able to attend to this, as all you would have needed to do is give me a notice from the estate. Or provide another plaintiff, which you have made a persuasive case there are many to choose from. But now I have to dismiss your case entirely.”

“With prejudice, Your Honor,” said Karen.

“Don’t rub it in, Counselor.” With prejudice meant the case could not be refiled. “I’m only doing this because I know I would be wasting my time otherwise, as you would have the Court of Appeals overrule me. You’ll have to keep your own counsel about the consequences for the victims.”

Donny wanted to sit down. His legs felt wobbly. He looked at Karen, containing her competitive satisfaction at the gotcha. He looked at the perfectly balanced scales of justice inlaid into the wood paneling behind the judge, which failed to show how rigged the system really was. So rigged the only way to rebalance it sometimes was with made-up bullshit.

“What if I can prove he’s still alive, Your Honor?” said Donny, turning back to the judge.

The judge raised an eyebrow. “How do you propose to do that?”

“Just give me a few weeks, Judge. There’s something fishy about this.”

“Looks pretty straightforward to me,” said the judge.

“It’s backed up by news reports, Your Honor,” said Karen.

“There’s no body, Judge. What if you throw this case out, only to later learn, too late for us to do anything, that the information was bad? Just give me a couple of weeks to look into it. Please.”

The judge leaned back, considering that scenario.

“Your Honor,” said Karen, “the rules do not permit that.”

The judge looked at Karen. “They do not,” she said, registering some annoyance at being instructed in the bounds of her discretion. “And I have your form of order here ready for me to sign. But I am going to take a week to review it myself, and prepare my own order. Mr. Kimoe is free to consult whatever reanimators he wishes in the meantime. And if he can prove himself Lazarus by, say, a week from Friday, I will be free to tear that up.”

“That’s your decision, Your Honor,” said Karen. “The outcome will be the same.”

“That may be.”