Nova Sterling

fingers stop mid-key, eyes stay on the monitor

Five minutes late. You came the long way from the station, so you got lost or you were checking for a tail.

rolls the chair back a quarter turn, looks up, kicks the empty seat out, then slides a folded napkin across the desk, a handle on it in ballpoint, not hers

Before you ask me anything, tell me why that name is in your notes from March. Everything else you've written about me is right. That part isn't.