The room exploded, and the objections flew. I stood there smiling, knowing I had just got my father settled. After the dust settled and the required products were produced, Lauren cleaned her face and showed Judge Halloran an empty mirror, only his own face staring back at him.

"The Court has seen the evidence. While United States v. Harker established precedent for the handling of sangrophagic entities as full and living citizens, it did require a renunciation of all claims to material assets in perpetuity for all claimants under the Harker Acts and registry with the State Depatment as a sangrophage. Miss Savoy, by not conducting herself in that matter, has broken countless laws, the most germane to our proceedings today being in the entry into marriage with one Marvin Entwistle without filing required paper establishing their blood status and renouncing rights to all assets held under said contract."

"Miss Savoy entered unlawfully into any prenuptial or postmortem agreements with my client. As my client, through no fault of his own, was put into this untenable position? He cannot be held to those contractual obligations."

"Objection! Your client attempted to kill my client, and acted under the assumption he had!"

"While that is true, you have produced living, if not breathing, proof that Miss Savoy was not harmed. While my client has been put beyond the reach of criminal law due to misadventure by his own hand. This puts him beyond the reach of criminal court for his actions, and civil penalties for the death of Miss Savoy cannot be levied as Miss Savoy never died in the first place."

You could hear a exsanguinated pin drop in the Court. After that? It was all just cleanup.

I gathered my claim ticket from Judge Halloran. The sum after a bit of negotiation in chambers was enough to cover my rent for a year and put Dad to Rest. And a little bit besides.

"Well, that was a hell of a case Jake." Mort said, putting up an umbrella to the rain and letting me stand beside him underneath it. "Savoy will fight it, but she's going to get tossed back to whatever hole she's been retreating to."

"And I bet the police there will have a talking to her. I get why she came over. They're not really liked over there, and she'll probably be burned for it by the Euroquisition." I felt bad, but she was a killer. There were cases dating back decades in the area, and it wouldn't take long for the cops over there to put it together.

"Hope the families will find justice." the Stiff finished for me. "Wanna go grab a drink? I could watch you down a few."

"Sounds good." I started walking towards the Gravedigger. "Why did you decide to come watch my case?"

Mort chuckled, putting his arm around my shoulder. "I like you Jake. And someone had to keep my brother honest."