Typical Damon Langford. Power didn’t only sit in the orders he barked, but in what he withheld. He loved reminding me that I was always the last to know.

Susan leaned back on her couch with a smug little smile, sipping from her glass as if she’d just dropped harmless gossip. “His words exactly,” she said, dragging them out for dramatic effect, “‘full staff represented effectively.’”

I rubbed my temple. “Of course. He couldn’t just tell me himself.”

Susan rolled her ...