Mr. Ames smiled without warmth. "We have authorization from next-of-kin, Ms. Reyes," he said. "The property is part of the estate settlement."
She unlocked a drawer and withdrew the mortuary's duplicate of the sealed case. In the light of the office, the vacuum seal glinted like a promise. Mara signed the duplicate chain-of-custody form with her name, hand deliberate, and slid the duplicate across to Elena. "This copy is to you," she said. "I’ll hold the mortuary's copy. If there’s any legal challenge, we will comply. But right now this is your property." the mortuary assistant fitgirl repack new
They left together into the thin dawn. Elena tucked the bag under her arm like a talisman and thanked Mara with a single quiet sentence that felt charged with everything she'd been holding back. Reyes," he said
Mr. Ames did not look surprised. "Yes. The firm handles these matters. We only follow procedures." Mara signed the duplicate chain-of-custody form with her
Mara nodded. She watched Elena run—lighter than she had been when she arrived, as if the act of retrieval had unburdened something stubborn and necessary. It had nothing to do with the law and everything to do with a promise kept between people who had shared miles and mornings.