The next morning Ruth pulled her chair closer to the monitor and asked me to read the routing code aloud, including the letters at the end.

I set the printout square with the edge of her desk.

The verification field was still empty, and the morning timestamp sat above it as if the two entries belonged together.

“Provisional,” I said.

“Then call it provisional in your notes.

Do not call it an approval, and do not call it evidence of misconduct.”

“I have not called it either.”

“Good.