With these facts, Katia figures out that her dad would be living in a
country which has a warm climate where orchids can grow, has Tamil as
one of its official languages and where advanced medical treatments
are available. Just as she is about to determine the country, 47
bursts through the door, shoots Smith in the chest, and knocks Katia
unconscious. Elsewhere, 47's handler Diana contacts another Agent
with a contract.
The use of "contact someone with a contract" sounds a bit unconventional to me.
We can provide / supply / present someone with something, as is exemplified by the online dictionaries. But the dictionaries don't include the collocation of "contact someone with something".
Without any context, I think there would be an ambiguity in "A contacted B with a contract". It could mean "A had a contract and contacted B", or "A contacted B to award B a contract". Do I get it right?
In the quoted example, I think "with a contract" acts as the object complement.
Then let's generalize this use:
A visited / approached / ran to / notified / engaged B with a contract.
Do they sound natural to a native speaker's ear?
Best Answer
There is ambiguity in your isolated phrase
the possibilities are
By the Law of Proximity(1)
Because of context from your passage
since A is B's handler and handlers do not phone-in for updates, they wait to be notified (minimal communication)
In your example question
Let's try this
I think most people would interpret it as the flowers and Sally were with John
would also be interpreted as Sally being with John
change with to and and any ambiguity disappears
however
would usually be interpreted as Jane and Sally were together.
(1) this may not be a real law, but is usually understood