Page 57 of Brooklynaire

I open up a chat window with Bingley. One of my innovations for this product is the ability to communicate fromafar.

Nate: Checkingin.

Bingley: Hello, Nate! The hockey score is 1-zip, your favor. But you probably know that, as you are currently seated 23.5 yards from the ice surface. On the home front, there is nothing to report. Internal temperature is 68 degrees. All security systemsengaged.

Nate: Good stuff. I was wondering if Rebecca isthere?

Bingley: Alas, fair Rebecca is not presently on the premises. I last interacted with Rebecca on Wednesday at one-thirty-threep.m.

Well, fuck. That was right after she had returned from the airport. She practically left a contrail on her way out of mylife.

Shit.

Nate: Did she leave a message?A guy canhope.

Bingley: No, good sir. Shall I locate her currentwhereabouts?

Every employee phone has a tracking device, so Bingley could find Rebecca easily. But it’s my company policy never to snoop on an employee unless we believe someone is indanger.

And I will not be that creepyguy.

Nate: No, thank you.Goodnight.

Bingley: Night, goodsir!

I could change his name back to Hal, I suppose. But I don’t. Just in case Rebecca might beback.

Asif.

I put the phone away and find Stew watchingme.

“What?”

“Nothing,” he says with a grin. “Want a beer? I’m going to thebar.”

“I’m good,” Isay.

“I’ll get you a drink, Stew,” Lauren says, rising from herseat.

“No! You don’t have to.” Even if Lauren is here in an official capacity, he would never abuse her by asking for pettyfavors.

There’s a reason we’ve been friends for years. Stew is goodpeople.

“But I want a drink and I don’t know what they have.” She puts a hand on his shoulder. “I’ll go. And maybe you can snap Nate out of being such a spacecadet.”

“Dude,” Stew says after she disappears. “What is up with you? And don’t tell me you are thinking about systems architecture rightnow.”

“I’m a little distracted. No bigdeal.”

Stew lifts his eyebrows. “Please tell me you’ve finally broken your dry spell. I was starting to getworried.”

“Oh, fuckoff.”

He laughs. “So who’s the luckygirl?”

“I can’t talk about this withyou.”

The smile falls off his face. “Whynot?”