I reached for my pocket, my fingers brushing the small digital recorder I had started before entering.

It was still running.

But would a recording of a threat be enough to stop him?

“Albright won’t sign,” I repeated, trying to convince myself as much as him.

“We’ll see,” Cole said.

He turned to Vanessa.

“Get your things,” he told her.

“The guard outside is waiting to escort you to the side exit.”

Vanessa picked up her small clutch bag from the table.

She gave me a final, pitying look.

“It was nice seeing you again, Eleanor,” she said.

“You always did look out of place in Washington.”

They walked toward the door.

Cole paused with his hand on the heavy brass handle.

“Don’t make this harder than it needs to be,” he said without looking back.

The door opened, and they stepped out into the brightly lit corridor.

I stood alone in the small concrete room.

The silence was deafening.

My phone buzzed a third time.

This time, I looked down at the screen.

*Where are you? Albright is calling the session to order.*