The woman's name is Priya. She brings three documents in a folder she has labeled with a date.
I read them in order. First: a rental agreement, dated four years ago, signed by Priya and a property owner whose Certified Device signature is at the bottom. The Device is from Meridian, which closed in the insolvency wave in March. I recognize the signature format — I have memorized seventeen Meridian signatures in my career. This one is consistent with what I know.
Second: a portability packet, six months old. It shows that Priya's rental agreement was migrated from Meridian's closing archive to Lighthouse, the provider that absorbed Meridian's Baltimore accounts. The packet has Priya's name, the rental agreement reference number, and a line that says: Transfer of record ownership. Status: Complete.
Third: a printed summary from Lighthouse showing Priya as a current active account holder with a rental agreement on file.
The chain is present. Priya can show where her document started, where it went when Meridian closed, and where it lives now. She can prove the document exists.
But I read the portability packet again. The transfer record shows two signature lines. The first is from Meridian's closing administrator — a system signature, timestamped. The second signature line is blank.
In a portability transfer, the receiving provider signs at intake. That is the moment when they accept custody. Lighthouse's intake signature is missing. The transfer document shows receipt was acknowledged on Meridian's end. It does not show that Lighthouse confirmed they received it.
I tell Priya: I will be your witness. I have read all three documents. I will testify that your rental agreement existed, that it was registered with Meridian, and that a portability packet was generated when Meridian closed. I will also testify that the receiving provider's signature on that packet is blank, and that I cannot say whether this is a processing omission or a disputed transfer. I will testify to what I read. That includes this.
She says: is that a problem?
I say: I don't know. But if you need a witness, it is better to have one who will say what the document says than one who will say what you hoped it said.
She asks if she still wants me.
I say yes.
She pays me in a meal and a favor owed. I eat the meal. I write down the favor. I file my notes: portability transfer, Meridian to Lighthouse, receiving signature absent. Chain present, gap at intake. Witness: me.