He didn't hang up.
That was the first decision, made in the half-second between hearing the name and deciding what to do with it. Hanging up communicated something. Staying on the line communicated something else. He chose the version that gave him information.
"Mr. Hale," he said.
"I appreciate you staying on the line." The voice was measured. Confident without being aggressive. The voice of someone who had made many calls like this and understood the precise register required. "I won't take much of your time."
"You have two minutes."
A pause. Brief. As if Hale was reassessing something.
"I understand a statement is being prepared," he said. "For release Sunday morning."
Seren said nothing.
