Lena's POV
I called Dr. Hargrove at nine in the morning.
He picked up on the second ring the way he always did, which meant he had been waiting for the call and wanted me to know it without saying so directly.
"Dr. Ashford," he said. "I've been following the news."
"Most people have."
"The surgery was successful."
"Yes."
"And the post-operative interference has been reported and handled."
"Yes."
A pause. "So when are you coming back?"
I was sitting in the small office Hayes had given me on the fourth floor. My London flight was booked for Friday. I had booked it four days ago, before the surgery, when the plan was still clean and straightforward — come back, do the job, leave.
"I need two more weeks," I said.
Silence on his end. Not surprised silence. Calculating silence.
"The
