A second message identified the sender: Julian Sterling, one of the guests from the party.

He explained that Thomas Reed had found a possible connection between her mother and records their firm had encountered in prior work.

There was no promise of money.

He wanted to ask whether she was willing to meet.

Maya called the publicly listed office number to confirm that the messages really came from him before replying.

“I found a lawyer’s card,” she told him.

“Ellen Park.”