“Yes, who is this?” Ashley asked curiously. Her phone number had been changed since her divorce from Georgio, and now very few people knew it because she kept it private.

“It’s me, Karenina. Could we meet in person?” the caller asked hesitantly.

It took Ashley a moment to realize that the familiar name belonged to Karenina—the researcher from the crooked supplier she was in the process of recruiting.

“Oh, of course! When would you like to meet?” Ashley replied quickly, ...