Colder.
“It’s three. Minimum.”
The room goes quiet.
Even the analysts stop typing.
Because they see it too now.
“A legal task force,” I continue. “Multi-national.”
I highlight the layers as I speak.
“Three countries.”
“Two intelligence agencies.”
“One private interest group—buried, but present.”
I lean back slightly, exhaling.
“They didn’t just build a case,” I say. “They built a structure.”
Aaron’s voice lowers.
“A cage.”
“Yes.”
And worse—
“They built it legally.”
Which means—
No shortcuts.
No easy extraction.
No brute force solution without consequences.
“And her mentor just walked her into it,” Aaron says.
I don’t answer right away.
Because that part?
That part is personal.
“Yes.”
Silence.
Then Aaron again.
Different tone now.
Not reactive.
