Irina Sokolova's office, 5 pm. Three meters by four, a frosted window, a radiator that clanked. Kom set his laptop on the pile of files.

"Doctor Sokolova, your official file says April. Look at line 847 of the compilation logs."

She leaned in. libpqcrypt library, version 4.2.1.

"That version has only existed for six weeks, sister. KOSCHEI was recompiled, redeployed. The file lies about the timeline."

Irina stayed silent. Kom scrolled to the compiler signature. Certificate SHA fingerprint. Private lab, Zurich.

"And no Russian entity signed this."

She paled half a shade, recovered too fast. Kom pulled a Kymie capsule from his inside pocket, placed it in front of her.

"No, doctor. Not here."

"Drink, madam. Coffee helps you see what you'd rather hide."

She hesitated, then slid the capsule into the small office machine. The aroma rose, warm, almost insolent in the frozen room. She took a sip, closed her eyes.

"I had not seen that line. No one at the FSB showed it to me."

"Somebody don rewrite this story, I no fit shake."

She nodded, slowly.

Kom gathered his things, said goodbye. As he stepped through the door, he caught in the reflection of the hallway window Irina slipping a USB key into her sleeve.

Want to know what an FSB mathematician hides in her sleeve at exactly five pm? Write me on Messenger, we'll look at the contents together. ☕