The response came not as a letter, but as a phone call — Coach Orlova's office phone ringing during Ivy's free period on Wednesday, the coach herself catching Ivy in the hallway with an expression that made her stomach drop before a single word was spoken.
"It's him," Coach Orlova said, low, phone pressed to her chest to mute it. "Marchenko. He called my contact number, said he received something forwarded from an address in Brighton Beach. He's asking to speak with you directly, if you're willing."
Ivy's hands had gone cold. "Now?"
"Now. He says he doesn't want to wait, and given everything we've discussed about being careful, I'd rather not ask him to call back and risk him changing his mind." Coach Orlova gestured toward her office, empty at this hour. "Take it in here. I'll wait out
