Samuel stopped beneath a shaded archway and handed me a heavy sheet of ivory parchment stamped with the gold crest of the state land registry.

“This came from the municipal court clerk an hour ago,” Samuel said.

“It’s the formal certificate of sole trust ownership, fully recorded in the permanent state archives.”

“Does it complete the registry transfers?” I asked.

“Every parcel is verified,” Samuel said.

“The sixty acres of the Valle estate, the commercial plaza grounds, and the mountain timber tract are legally secured under your maiden name.”

“What news from the house in Zapopan?” I asked gently.