“I’m leaving the department,” Donovan said.
Aria had not expected that. She held the phone for a moment and let the surprise settle before responding.
“When?” she said.
“End of the quarter,” Donovan said. “Twenty-two years. It’s time.” A pause. “I’m starting a private consultancy. Financial crime prevention — working with companies to build the internal structures that prevent the vulnerabilities that bad actors exploit.” She paused. “Not prosecution. Prevention.”
“That’s a significant shift,” Aria said.
“Yes,” Donovan said. “It’s the right shift.” A pause. “I’m calling because I want to talk to you about a partnership. Cole Okafor and whatever I build. Complementary services — you build the financial architecture, I build the prevention protocols. Together we cover the full spectrum.
