Page 74 of Pocket Wife

Sen speaks before I can. “As the tribunal can see, the transfer passed through legitimate regional channels.”

“No,” I say. “The intake passed through regional channels. The transfer language requires separate review.”

“The signed authorization is visible.”

“Visible is not equivalent to valid.”

Sen’s smile thins. “Specialist Veyr, are you suggesting Miss Hartwell’s mother did not sign this document?”

The trap is clean.

If I say yes, Sen will demand proof I do not yet have. If I say no, Lucy will hear me confirm the wound.

I look once at the signature, then at the line above it.

“I am suggesting the signature and the authority claimed above it may not belong to the same act.”

The chamber quiets.

Salo leans forward. “Explain.”

I enlarge the lower third of the document. “Eleanor Hartwell’s signature is placed under the phrase resident guardian acknowledgment. Not settlement transfer consent. The covenant requires unanimous consent of resident households and guardians of record. A single household acknowledgment cannot satisfy that standard.”

Sen says, “Helix has not claimed it satisfies unanimity.”

“You implied it defeated concealment.”

“It proves resident knowledge.”

“It proves Eleanor Hartwell saw a document. It does not prove she saw this document in this form.”

Corvek’s voice enters, smooth and dangerous. “That is speculation.”

“It is analysis.” I highlight the header. “The document title uses post-reclassification terminology. The signature block uses pre-reclassification household language. Those systems should not coexist on one original form.”

Kaun’s remote seal pulses as she receives my live annotation.

Adjudicator Salo’s expression changes by degrees. “Advocate Sen, do you have the physical original?”

Sen pauses for half a beat too long. “The original is held in secure Helix custody pending transfer.”

“Not neutral custody?”

“Corporate archive integrity protocols⁠—”

“Answer.”

Sen’s mouth tightens. “Not neutral custody.”

A murmur runs through the chamber.

I continue before Sen can recover. “The custody route also shows acquisition from the same regional office implicated in Maev Orlan’s coercion testimony. The temporary seal attached to this transfer matches the seal used to amend Solaris Valley’s land classifications.”

Salo looks to the side panel. “Confirmed?”

Kaun’s voice answers through the chamber system. “Preliminary match confirmed. Full forensic comparison pending.”

Lucy’s hand tightens around her slate.