Clay was five minutes late for the meeting with the operative from the DPD that Joan recommended. Joan told Clay the person in question was her best. He trusted Joan to make that call.

The look on his face when he saw Annie Walker standing in the conference room was pure surprise. He doubted he could hide it if he wanted.

"Ms. Walker," Clay said by way of greeting before sitting at the table in the center of the room and putting his pile of files on the table.