Imani loved him.
She also knew the sentence was incomplete.
A bad customer concentration had made the business fragile.
He had borrowed too aggressively.
The bank’s error mattered.
It was not the only thing.
That lesson became central to her work.
Evidence did not owe anyone a satisfying villain.
Sometimes institutions failed.
Sometimes people did.
Usually both.
At 4:30 that afternoon, Rebecca Sloan asked to speak.
With counsel.
Imani entered the conference room with Daniel and Sterling Crown’s outside attorney.
Rebecca looked exhausted.
Her ivory blouse had lost its crispness.
Hair loosened around one ear.
The arrogance from the lobby had thinned.
Not vanished.
Thinned.
She looked toward Imani.
“I owe you an apology.”
Imani sat.
“Do you?”
Rebecca’s attorney shifted.
Rebecca continued:
“I should not have touched your hand.”
“No.”
“Or your bag.”
“No.”
“I was angry.”
Imani waited.
Rebecca looked irritated.
“You’re going to make me say all of it?”
“I’m not making you say anything.”
Rebecca looked down.
“I judged you.”
Imani remained silent.
Rebecca continued:
“I thought you were trying to create a scene.”
“Why?”
“Because…”
She stopped.
Imani waited.
Rebecca looked toward the attorney.
He gave no help.
“Because you walked in like you owned the place.”
Imani almost laughed.
“That offended you?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Rebecca looked at her.
Then away.
“I don’t know.”
Imani answered:
“You probably do.”
Rebecca’s eyes filled unexpectedly.
“I had been told to keep you in the lobby.”
The room changed.
Daniel leaned forward.
“By whom?”
Rebecca’s attorney raised one hand.
“My client is offering cooperation subject to an agreement.”
Daniel looked toward him.
“You don’t have an agreement.”
“Then she can stop.”
Rebecca turned toward her lawyer.
“No.”
“Rebecca.”
“No.”
She looked back at Imani.
“I’m done.”
Her attorney closed his eyes.
Rebecca continued:
“Graham called at 9:34.”
Imani’s heartbeat changed.
“Graham Vale.”
“Yes.”
“He said a hostile forensic consultant might arrive.”
“Did he name me?”
“No.”
“Description?”
Rebecca looked ashamed.
“Black woman.”
Imani’s face remained still.
“Anything else?”
“Mid-thirties.”
“White suit.”
“Braids.”
Daniel looked toward the lawyer.
He was taking notes now too.
Rebecca continued:
“He said you were trying to disrupt client operations without proper authority.”
“That if you arrived before court enforcement, I should delay you until legal reviewed the paperwork.”
Imani asked:
“How long?”
“He didn’t say.”
“You watched the clock.”
Rebecca shut her eyes.
“Yes.”
“Why?”