She just received a call from building security downstairs saying her visitors were coming up. It had taken about 40 minutes for Mark to get to Langley, and Sara was tired from pacing around in her office. Sara’s stomach had been doing somersaults as she imagined what Mark had to say. Why was the NSA about to call us? She had marched to the command room and told Anderson that someone from the NSA was coming with important intelligence. She wanted him to hear whatever Mark knew. She replayed in her mind how Anderson stared at her when she had told him. His eyes looked like a thousand thoughts were scrolling behind them. After a pause, he had told her in a measured tone “Call me when he’s here.” Now, sitting in the conference room, the seconds felt like hours as Sara waited for Mark to come into the room. She looked through the window. Outside, past the parking lot, Sara spotted a black swan in a small pond. She had never seen one before. Suddenly the door opened. A man walked in.
