I wanted the friction of expertise meeting skepticism under light that hides nothing. The mountain pass gives us the crossroads feeling — everyone here is in transit, everyone needs accurate navigation, and this woman is the bottleneck they all depend on. The client isn't deferential; she's paying good money and she wants proof. That's the relationship I wanted: professional, tense, mutual respect that hasn't quite been earned yet. The noon light is deliberate — no moody atmosphere to soften the stakes. Just two women, brass instruments, and a number that has to be right. —Volt