The morning after the visit to the house, Beatrice left her father resting in the ward and brought his list to the claims office. Two men were arguing at the door.
One wanted it closed so the staff could finish the cases already inside. The other had brought a woman whose papers had burned with her home.
"Come back when you have something we can compare," the first man said.
"With what?" the woman asked.
Beatrice recognized the woman before she made out the name on her damaged card. She had delivered supplies to the shop twice, always complaining that her cart cost more to repair than the goods were worth.
"Your payment receipts," Beatrice said. "The ones from our company should still be in the shop."
The woman turned toward her.
"They took my cart too."
"Tell me who took it."
"That is another matter," the clerk said. "We have people waiting for the property releases."
"Yes. She needs a cart to work while you decide hers."
