Agent Claire Donovan had the specific quality of someone who had been doing difficult work for a long time and had learned to be direct as a survival mechanism.
She appeared on the video call at two in the afternoon with the expression of someone who had prepared for this conversation and was going to say what she came to say without significant preamble. Aria was at her desk. Luca was in the chair across from her — present but not central, his preference. Marco was on standby in case technical questions arose.
“Ms. Cole,” Donovan said. “Or is it Ms. Okafor now? I’ve seen both.”
“Cole professionally,” Aria said. “Cole Okafor for the firm.”
“Cole Okafor,” Donovan said. “Good firm name.” She paused. “I’m going to be direct. The secondary Meridian finding was sent to you because we believ
