I was.
But beneath the anger was something that felt strangely like grief.
Evan had not been an enemy hiding outside the institution.
He had been part of the team.
A man whose judgment people trusted.
Someone who understood exactly why sensitive information was protected and why decisions about national security required independent evidence.
And he'd apparently allowed private interests to compromise those responsibilities.
For several minutes, I sat without moving.
Then Priya knocked on the door.
“Ma'am?”
I looked up.
She entered.
Her expression was gentle.
“I heard.”
I nodded.
She sat.
For a while, neither spoke.
Finally, I whispered, “I trusted him.”
Priya looked toward me.
“I know.”
“He knew Zora.”
She nodded.
“He knew my family.”
I looked down.
“And he still allowed this to happen.”
Priya was silent for a moment.
Then said something I hadn't expected.
“His wrongdoing doesn't mean you were foolish for treating him like a colleague.”
I looked up.
She continued.
“Institutions have to be able to function through trust. But trust has to be supported by controls, transparency, and consequences when it's abused.”
I nodded slowly.
Then whispered, “I keep wondering what I missed.”
Priya considered the question.
“Maybe there were warning signs. Maybe not. That's part of what the reviews should establish.”
She paused.
“But don't let hindsight convince you every future betrayal should have been obvious.”
For several seconds, I remained silent.
Then I smiled sadly.
“You sound like my mother.”
Priya laughed.
“I'll take that as a compliment.”
We sat together for another few minutes.
Then she stood.
“There's still work to do.”
I looked toward her.
“Yes.”
She smiled faintly.
“And you're still the Deputy Director.”
I took a breath.
Then nodded.
“I know.”
But as she left, I realized the title mattered less to me than it had before the roadside stop.
Not because the responsibility was smaller.
Because I had been reminded how easily authority could become dangerous when people forgot why it existed.
I didn't want to be obeyed simply because of my position.
I wanted the institution to remain capable of making sound decisions even when the person holding the highest title in the room was wrong.
And perhaps that was the most important lesson the conspiracy had exposed.