"You didn‘t give get a very good view, did you?" Dale asked as he walked over to the window in Brett's office and looked out over the roof of the adjacent building.

Brett looked up from his paperwork, just now noticing that Dale had entered the room. He got so preoccupied with his own thoughts and activities sometimes, that he could completely zone out his surroundings.

"Not really. It would be a distraction anyway and I think that was the point! If you notice, all the various research and lab departments face this way."

"Hmm." Dale's mind was elsewhere. He stood with arms folded, leaning against the window casing and stared out at nothing in particular.

"I hate to intrude on your thoughts, but is there something I can help you with?" Brett offered.

"No, I was just thinking about our conversation the other day about Diana. This morning I checked her file, the one on the computer and it's the strangest thing..."

Brett stood up and walked over to face him, trying to read his statement. It was obvious whatever Dale had found was seriously bothering him.

"And you found something?"

"Well, that's the problem... I didn't find anything! Her basic file came up, of course. That's the information that's more than likely on file down the hall. Born 1952, but with no month and day supplied. Graduated from the University of California but there are no records. Seems they were damaged. And for three years prior to taking her assignment in D.C. she was apart of the IADC oversees division. The IRAC mainframe shows that there was never any other information given or obtained and that includes recommendations. I noticed the date all of this was put into the computer. It was May 12, 1977."

Brett frowned. "Is that date significant?"

"I'd say so. She started working for Washington technically on the 10th, same month and year!"

Dale turned to Brett to catch his reaction. Instantly, he knew that Brett was missing the full import of what he was telling him.

"Brett, what I'm saying is, she should have had a file on her already from working oversees... an extensive file, including background checks and the whole nine yards. Everyone employed by the government naturally has one. But why is it that no file existed on Diana Prince until a couple of days after she came to work in Washington? How can that be?"

"Why wouldn't this have come up before now? You know, like when she transferred from Washington to here. Wouldn't her file have been viewed then?" Brett questioned.

Dale looked away realizing that he would have been the one responsible for doing that. As he had told Brett before, he had seen her file on paper. But he had not paid too much attention to anything other than her picture, if truth were told. For some reason he had assumed that Agent Prince, when he heard the name, was male. Needless to say, a very embarrassing first meeting with Diana Prince had ensued. He hadn't even bothered to check the first name. When he finally looked at the file later on that day he recalled comparing the woman in the picture with her hair pulled back and hidden behind large glasses to the one he had just met. Deciding he liked her better without glasses, his attention was diverted to more pressing matters. And that had been that.

Now several years later, he was worried that his oversight could cause him some serious problems if this matter was pursued.

Dale emerged from his own thoughts.

"I'm afraid I would be held responsible for that."

Brett walked over to the brown leather loveseat that sat opposite his desk and slumped into it. Staring at the floor he began his own confession.

"I feel I should let you know something myself. I attempted my own check of Diana's file..."

Brett hadn't expected, what could only be described as a total lack of surprise on Dale‘s part. His superior didn't flinch, but said thoughtfully:

"Yes, I thought you would. And I'm going to venture that you also put it back without opening it. Didn't you?"

In wide-eyed amazement, Brett stuttered, "H-how do you know that?"

Dale laughed.

"It's not in your character, my boy. I pride myself on being able to size up people pretty well. You are a decent person and an even better friend. You wouldn't ever invade another's privacy in such a way. And neither would I normally. That is, if the situation was different. It's just that in this case, my abilities seemed to have failed me in regards to Diana..."

"What are you going to do about it?"

Dale shot Brett a strange look. Lowering his voice he said:

"Well, first of all, this conversation goes no further than this room for the time being. I‘ve got a phone call to make..."

Dale turned and exited Brett's office and the discussion came to a very abrupt end.

Brett wondered to whom the call was being made...