Evelyn nodded.
The receptionist clicked again.
"I'm sorry. Your account seems to have an executive privacy restriction."
Evelyn knew exactly what that meant.
Her financial records were segmented to prevent ordinary branch employees from seeing complete balances or internal relationship notes.
She had expected it.
"You should still be able to process a deposit."
"Absolutely."
The receptionist stood.
"I'll get a banker."
She walked toward a side office.
Less than a minute later, a young banker approached.
He introduced himself politely.
Evelyn handed him the check.
He examined it.
"Fifty thousand."
"Yes."
"Hospital reimbursement?"
"Correct."
He turned the check over.
"May I see identification?"
Evelyn handed him her driver's license.
He compared it carefully.
Everything was going exactly as it should.
Then a voice came from behind him.
"What is that?"
The young banker turned.
The Bank Manager had emerged from a glass office.
She was a white woman in her early forties with blonde hair twisted into an elaborate updo and a fitted black suit worn over a white blouse.
She carried herself with the confidence of someone accustomed to having everyone move when she entered a room.
The banker raised the check.
"Deposit."
The Manager walked closer.
"Amount?"
"Fifty thousand."
She stopped.
Her eyes shifted toward Evelyn.
Then toward the check.
Then back toward Evelyn.
The change in her expression was almost imperceptible.
But Evelyn saw it.
Suspicion had arrived before information.
The Manager held out her hand.
"Let me see."
The banker gave her the check.
The Manager examined the hospital logo.
Then the amount.
Then Evelyn.
"Where did you get this?"
Evelyn removed one hand from her handbag.
"It was issued to me."
"I can see whose name is on it."
The Manager tapped the paper.
"I'm asking how you got it."
Evelyn looked at her calmly.
"The issuing hospital refunded a deposit."
"Fifty thousand dollars?"
"Yes."
The Manager laughed once.
Not loudly.
Just enough to establish the tone.
"That's quite a refund."
"It is."
The Manager looked toward the banker.
"Did you verify this?"
"I was about to."
"You were about to deposit it."
"No, ma'am. I was opening verification."
The Manager returned her attention to Evelyn.
"Do you have documentation from the hospital?"
Evelyn could have produced it.
The reimbursement letter was inside her handbag.
But the question itself interested her.
"What documentation would you normally require for a hospital-issued check?"
The Manager's eyes narrowed.
"Whatever I decide is necessary."
The banker looked uncomfortable.
Evelyn remained calm.