The journalist confirmed publication for Friday.
Two days away.
Kendrick spent Thursday managing everything that needed managing before the story broke.
Walker legal briefed.
Board prepared — not the full story, just: expect significant press coverage Friday, related to the Victor Hale investigation, respond with the prepared statement if asked.
Marcus on standby.
Lena warned.
He did it systematically.
He did it well.
At 4pm he put the last briefing down.
He sat at his desk.
He had been working toward this moment for three weeks.
The counter-architecture Damian had named was ready.
The document was thorough.
Claire Moss had the full file.
She had called that afternoon to confirm publication — not to ask questions, not to negotiate, just to say: it's going live Friday morning, I wanted you to know.
He had thanked her.
She had said: thank Damian.
He would.
He sat at his desk.
He thought about tomorrow.
---
He had been thinking about tomorrow since Wednesday.
