The Code Read Aloud

Mara read seven transfer entries aloud. Soren displayed seven paired certificate corrections. Naomi's invoices showed seven placement fees. The repetition transformed isolated error into system.

Celeste attacked each witness. Mara had violated chart procedure. Soren faced suspension. Naomi wanted custody. Lena's credentials created the certificates.

Then Felix's invoice appeared beside the cloud wipe command from Celeste's account.

"My brother acted without authorization," she said.

Felix joined by counsel and produced messages directing him to "protect succession inventory." Celeste had used the network once for her family, then funded it by selling placements through the same channel.

Daniel testified last. He described the hurricane workflow, the missing expiration control, and every later event that occurred while he was elsewhere.

Celeste leaned toward the microphone. "Dr. Cross selected the original infant. He knew which child would go."

The room turned toward him.

Daniel opened the first authorization.

The infant field was blank.