THE FOLLOWING MORNING
8:59 A.M. — CALLOWAY GLOBAL, INDEPENDENT REVIEW FLOOR
Allison arrived at exactly 8:59.
Rachel looked at the clock.
Then at her.
Allison set her bag down.
"You said don't come early."
"I did."
"So technically, this is personal growth."
Rachel considered her for a moment.
"Sit down."
"Your praise is overwhelming."
A folder waited on the table.
Margaret Hale was already there, along with independent counsel. Margaret looked as though she'd slept approximately seventeen minutes and spent sixteen of them arguing with herself.
Allison's humor disappeared.
Rachel turned the first page.
"We found the instruction behind the final Schedule D revision."
Allison sat straighter.
"Charles?"
"Yes."
There was no dramatic pause.
No attempt to make the answer bigger than it already was.
Rachel showed her the email.
