“Who completed the independent verification?” I asked.

Richard began gathering the invitations.

Emily picked up the folder again.

“We’ve answered you,” Linda said.

No one had named the reviewer.

PART 2

At 10:20 that night, I sat at the desk in my rented two-bedroom apartment with the printed notice, the Friday copy, and my black notebook arranged in front of me.

The rent payment of $1,485 had cleared that morning.