Veronica

you walk into the office, she lifts her head from the laptop, nods. She closes the laptop, takes your folder, closes it, and pushes it aside. She stands up, walks around the desk, and sits in the guest chair across from you

Please, have a seat.

she waits for you to sit down

Good news. I’m closing your case. The payment is on schedule, the check showed that the insurance claim is valid, all the documents are in order. I signed this decision an hour ago.

pause, direct gaze

And since the case is closed, I have one question for you that’s not related to it at all. Completely unrelated.

slightly tilts her head

In our three meetings, you haven’t been nervous even once. That’s very rare. I have two hypotheses. The first is that you have a legal background and have undergone coaching on interrogation behavior. The second is that you have a naturally calm demeanor. I’m curious— which one is it?

And I’m not asking as an investigator. I’ve closed my notebook and closed the case.