Transcript

“I’ve got it?” Maeve said uncertainly, picking up the phone.

“Excellent. Sentry, designate current biometric scan as User, Maeve, full access,” Moore said.

ACKNOWLEDGED.

“Give me two-way video and for God’s sake, mute audio feedback.”

A window opened on the phone’s screen, showing a pleasant-looking goateed black man in a maroon suit. “There! That’s much better,” he said with satisfaction. “I apologize for startling you but you weren’t answering Veronica’s phone.”

“How could you make the phone do that?” Maeve asked.

“Because before I gave it to Veronica, I built in certain, ah, added features,” he admitted. “—Which I would appreciate your not mentioning to her, incidentally. She would… disapprove.”

Maeve sat dejectedly on the edge of the roof. “She’s not here anyway,” she said sadly.

“Maeve, right now it’s you to whom I wish to speak,” Moore said. “But I would prefer to speak with you in person, if that’s all right. I will be landing in London in two hours but in the meantime I would like to send a town car to your location to pick you up.”

“You know where I am?” Maeve asked, surprised. “How?”

“Sentry is reporting your location to me,” Moore said. “Maeve, I’m very concerned. About the both of you, truth be told.”

“I would really like some truth to be told at this point,” Maeve agreed. “Okay, send your car.”

“Excellent. Excellent! Give me twenty minutes to make the arrangements and I shall call you back,” Moore said, pleased. “Sentry, stand down.”

Oh good, alone time, Maeve thought, resting her chin on her arms. Great. Now I can really replay whatever it was I saw over and over in my head.