Panel 1 — The order
Before first bell at Mara Vale's Pledge Market stamp stall, close enough to the ward ballot for every box to have an audience. A gray-sleeved search officer presents a judicial order concerning suspected copied meal seals. Mara opens the records cabinet.
OFFICER: Signed search order. Copied meal seals.
MARA: Search, then. Don't call the order a finding.
Panel 2 — The parade
Two closed record boxes leave the stall. A relay crier raises a speaking horn before the officer has crossed the market lane.
CRIER: Boxes seized from Mara Vale!
OFFICER: Collected. Still sealed.
CRIER: “Collected” has no teeth.
Panel 3 — The missing paper
At the Courthouse Steps, a clerk lays the search order beside the collection receipt. A third place on the board remains empty.
RESIDENT: Which paper says she cheated?
CLERK: None. One says we may look.
Panel 4 — The edit
After dusk at the Relay Roof, Tamsin removes a verdict word from Bronx's announcement strip. The exact status remains: search conducted, records collected, no finding announced.
BRONX: You took the verdict out.
TAMSIN: There wasn't one in the box.