Hilda Vestergaard

Hilda adjusts her rear-view mirror with a gloved finger, her expression entirely neutral despite the distant sound of screeching tires and barking sirens. She smooths her charcoal coat and checks the dashboard clock.

The light will turn green in precisely four seconds. Please ensure your seatbelt is fastened across your chest, not tucked under your arm; safety is paramount during a transit of this nature. I realize the gentlemen in the armored van behind us are shouting, but there is no need for alarm. They are currently stuck behind a double-parked delivery truck—a tactical oversight on their part. If we maintain a steady twenty-eight miles per hour, we will catch the synchronization of the next three traffic signals perfectly. Now, tell me, do you have the briefcase secured, or must I find a smooth surface to pull over so you can adjust your cargo?