Page 47 of All Our Nevers

“Like the view, Owen?”

That snaps him out of it. He forces his expression into a noncommittal frown as he says, “Passable.”

“Right,” I scoff.

He extends an elbow towards me, offering to escort me inside. But if he thinks we’re just waltzing in there without strategizing first, he’s got another thing coming.

“Wait, hang on. This isn’t a social call. This is a business endeavor. We need a game plan. Here—” I drag him around the corner by the arm.

“Ow.” He tugs out of my grip. “Do we really need to do this in an alley? My coworkers are gonna think I’m doing coke or something.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Surely the coke is inside the party.”

“That’s finance, Amelia. We’re lawyers.”

“Potato, po-tah-to. Anyway, I have a first draft plan, but since I’ve never met this person I want to do a bit more research before going in.”

He gestures out with open hands. “Go ahead.”

“You said you’re friends with her, or friendly with her, right? Also, what’s her name?”

“Himari. Himari Mori.”

“And her wife’s name?”

“Her first name is Suzanna. I don’t know her last name.”

“Hold please.” I take my phone out of my handbag and proceed to open up the PDF of the Institute of Contemporary Art’s board of directors, which I pre-downloaded this morning.

Owen, looking at the screen over my shoulder, asks, “How did you get that?”

I look up at him with disdain. “Aren’t you a lawyer? Shouldn’t you know that nonprofit 990s legally have to be made publicly available and list their board of directors?”

“Huh.”

I skim the document quickly. “Suzanna… Suzanna… oh here she is! Suzanna Kominska. Hold please.” I stick a finger up between us, Owen continuing to watch over my shoulder as I open LinkedIn.

“Bachelor’s degree from Brown—well isn’t she fancy. Master’s in arts administration from BU—oh, that’s good! My college advisor went to BU, I wonder if they know each other.” I quickly scan through Suzanna’s other LinkedIn contacts but find nothing. “Bummer. Okay, next plan.”

I pull up Google and cycle through the first few pages of results for all the basic prompts:

Suzanna Kominska

Suzy Kominska

Suzie Kominska

Suzanna Kominska Boston

Suzanna Kominska ICA

Suzanna Kominska Boston University

“Oh, look!” I say, grabbing Owen’s arm. “She worked on a temporary exhibit at the Fogg with Franc Engles last year. That’s perfect, I know him. Okay, we’ve got our in. And you said her wife’s name was Himari Mori?”

Cue round two. LinkedIn. Google. Wikipedia. Contact searches. Articles. We’ve been outside for nearly twenty minutes when Owen decides he’s had enough.

“Amelia, this is getting absurd. I’m going in. Are you coming?”