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“I told him to form his own opinions about Schön.”
“Good advice.”
He put his finger on my chin, and I looked up at him. “Was it?”
“I can’t say I’m a fan, but when Macht was giving us his opinion, I found myself feeling sorry for her.”
“Marchand isn’t doing her any favors. She may go down because of his actions.”
I snuggled back into him. “You were right to tell Magnet to come to his own conclusions.”
“We should listen to what’s on the recorder.”
I nodded, then rolled out of bed to grab it. I pressed play and held it to my ear, but still couldn’t hear more than the muffled sound of our voices. Then, suddenly, it stopped. My eyes opened wide, and Zeppelin and I both laughed.
“Can you imagine the look on Decker Ashford’s face if he saw this thing?” Zep said when I handed it to him.
“He’d probably laugh.”
“Or turn it into something that actually worked.”
My eyes opened wide. “Bloody hell.”
Zeppelin reached into his bag and pulled out a radio-frequency scanner, a cloth, a pair of gloves, and an evidence bag. “It isn’t transmitting anything. If it was, this would pick it up.”
“We’re probably just being paranoid.”
“Maybe.” He wiped our prints from the outside, put on the gloves, then dismantled it piece by piece before running the scanner over it again. When there was no indication of transmittal, Zeppelin put it in an evidence bag, then shoved itinto his attaché. “I’ll give it to Reaper in the morning. We should get some rest.”
As difficult as it was to stop after one good-night kiss, that’s what we did. I couldn’t speak for him, but I’d been so exhausted, I was asleep within minutes.
When I woke,Zeppelin was in the kitchen, fussing with the espresso machine.
“Can I help?” I asked.
“Ah, sorry. I shouldn’t have woken you.”
“I planned to get up before now, so it’s good you did.” He stepped aside so I could fix what he was having trouble with.
While he made coffee, I checked my email and saw an update from Nem. “Schön arrived at the command center. Nemesis and Magnet are meeting with her this morning.” I kept reading. “She also reports she had luck with your suggestion about getting an audience with Secretary-General Russell.” I looked up at him. “What was your advice?”
“That she asked either Decker or Doc Butler.”
I nodded. “Well done.” I was about to don my disguise for the day when my mobile vibrated with a call. “It’s her,” I said.
“Go ahead,” he said, motioning in the direction of the lavatory.
“Good morning, Nem,” I said, swiping the screen to answer.
“Verity, I just realized the hour. I hope I didn’t ring too early.”
“Not at all. Zeppelin and I have a meeting with Macht and Reaper in an hour.”
“How are you holding up?” she asked.
“Frustrated, naturally. Particularly over Godwin escaping us last night. And, of course, the situation with Baissier and Schön.”
“I meant with you and Zeppelin. Are you free to talk?”