He said you weren’t interested anymore.”

I thought of the way Mark had encouraged me to take a break, then treated that manufactured absence as proof that I didn’t belong.

He’d used the same story with everyone.

At the end, Brenda’s attorney confirmed that she would preserve relevant records.

No one promised immunity or a favorable outcome.

The investigation would have to evaluate her statements against independent documents.

As we stood to leave, she said, “Laura, I’m sorry.”