The Valuation
Andrea Schmidt sat perfectly upright in the sterile airport lounge, her fingers tapping a rhythmic pattern on the latched aluminum briefcase. Across the small table, the grieving couple sat in a state of fractured shock. Mrs. Santiago’s eyes were fixed on the distant column of black smoke rising from the tarmac, while her partner, Marcus, stared intently at the corporate contract laid out between them.
“Fifty thousand dollars each,” Andrea repeated, her voice dripping with professional empathy. “We can wire the money as soon as you sign and finalize the deal. You will be subject to income tax, which is beyond our control, but you should end up with around forty-five thousand.”
“Each?” Marcus asked, his eyes darting between the pen in Andrea’s hand and his trembling girlfriend.
“Yes, each,” Andrea replied smoothly. “All you have to do is sign a few documents, and we will take care of the rest. If you want the body double, just indicate the funeral home, and we will deliver it.”
Marcus leaned forward, his voice dropping to a whisper. “How much time do we have to decide?”
“We need to place the bodies in cold storage within an hour,” Andrea stated, checking her minimalist wristwatch. “Any longer, and they are of no use to us.”
“What if we plan to sue the airline and they need evidence? Then what?” Marcus inquired, his pragmatic mind already calculating the legal fallout of the crash.
Andrea offered a reassuring, highly practiced smile. “I don’t usually get into details like this, but the bodies will be CT-scanned and X-rayed. Blood and urine samples will be analyzed, and records will be kept for twelve years at our records office. The investigators can contact us directly for any information they require.”
Mrs. Santiago finally tore her gaze away from the window, shaking her head in utter disbelief as she looked at Marcus. “You’re not actually considering her offer, are you? They are my family!”
“Funerals are expensive, and her company could provide the funds we need,” Marcus muttered, refusing to meet her eyes.
Andrea seized the moment, leaning in closer. “We can offer more. We also guarantee up to $10,000 in additional funds to cover funeral costs. We provide that separately since not everyone opts for a funeral these days.”
“Is there any way you can tell me what you intend to do with my brother and his wife’s bodies?” Mrs. Santiago asked, her voice cracking with a mix of grief and horror.
“No, I’m sorry,” Andrea replied, her tone clipping shut like her briefcase. “However, there is one other thing. If we find the bodies are in a condition unusable to us, the offer will be rescinded. If you sign, we will let you know as soon as we evaluate the remains.”
