She wrote the time of our review in the margin, then initialed it.

That was how Ruth worked.

She never made a mark she could not explain later.

I took out my black notebook and copied the code exactly.

“Should I request a certified copy now?”

Ruth rested her pen across the printed page.

“First, tell me what you intend to do with it.”

“I want the record preserved before anyone decides the blank field is harmless.”