Thick overcast clouds hung low above the Upper West Side area, bringing a cold wind that froze the stone corridors of Columbia Law School. The clock indicated two o'clock in the afternoon. Most of the students had just exited the main lecture hall, leaving the interior garden area, which was usually quiet and surrounded by tall granite pillars, deserted.
Valera Dawson walked side by side with Clarissa across the corridor toward the library. Valera hugged several printed sheets of commercial law cases to her chest, while Clarissa was busy checking the student committee meeting schedule on her phone.
Visibly, Valera appeared highly calm. However, behind her neat professional demeanor, her entire senses of alertness were at the highest level of readiness. She knew exceedingly well that foll
