[ an oddly phrased question. after all -- in her line of work -- when isn't she hearing about umbrella? but perhaps that isn't the cleverest fact to divulge so early on in a first conversation. ]

I was...in contact with one of their ex-researched as recently as a few days ago. Shortly before showing up here, to be honest. [ it's a coincidence she doesn't like. not one bit. but downing was taken into custody, so he couldn't have anything to do with this.

could he? ]