I was going to be right, provably, on paper, in a way that left them nowhere to stand.

They had built their whole plan on my panic.

So I would give them my panic, exactly as scripted, and I would build my case behind it.

Chapter 7 — The Performance

When Fairbank’s footsteps faded down the hall, I stepped back into the corridor and gave myself three seconds to become the person they were expecting.

I made my breathing shallow and ragged.

I stared into the fluorescent light until my eyes watered.