# Counter-Strip Audit - Chapter 14

Header: pre/post word counts: Claude raw 2,652 / current integrated 2,492; delta -6.0%. Sample size 10 cuts/recasts. Author-direction notes: preserve Claude scene base while repairing mechanical blockers, book-specific tic regressions, and narrator-gloss drift.

- JUSTIFIED - recast: one-sentence group-thread paragraphs consolidated - evidence: raw quality gate had `fieldguide-one-sentence-paragraph-gravity` CAP open; current gate passes.
- JUSTIFIED - recast: "It was not the kiss itself. It was..." - evidence: synthesis introduced echo-line blocker; repaired to "The photo had missed the kiss..."
- JUSTIFIED - cut: "small umber casualty" / "an umber casualty" - evidence: Claude-tic and Comedy Doctor audits flagged default decoration; current text keeps only the visible dropped brush.
- JUSTIFIED - cut: raw evaluative `which` captions - evidence: Chapter 13 tic ledger ordered zero new evaluative `which` in Ch14; current remaining `Which` instances are dialogue questions.
- JUSTIFIED - cut: "a very small trade show" - evidence: default-elegant comic comparison; current chapter keeps the card/grounds without overlay.
- JUSTIFIED - recast: "Not the whole truth, but true" - evidence: raw gate BANNED `Not X, but Y`; current "He shelved for Odile sometimes. He could say that" keeps concealment without formula.
- JUSTIFIED - recast: "if he was honest about it" - evidence: Claude-tic audit self-aware meta; current direct memory smell is cleaner.
- JUSTIFIED - cut: "the case closed itself, the way his cases did" - evidence: narrator-philosopher intrusion; current rationalization remains in Theo's thoughts.
- JUSTIFIED - cut: "the most counterfeit thing..." - evidence: theme gloss; current "Her pages turned. His pen moved" leaves the quiet in action.
- JUSTIFIED - recast: "The question landed..." - evidence: synthesis line tripped `legacy-narrator-admiration-tell`; current "His alternatives came up at once" is functional.

Chapter verdict: `NONE OVER-CUT`.

REVISION ORDERS: none.
