Dead Water Creek. Alex Brett

observing. Damn. She pulled back like a startled snake. I tried to divert.

      “I hear he’s brilliant.”

      Now she was observing me and her defences were up. She continued warily. “He’s why I’m here.”

      Before I could catch myself I blurted out, “But you’re not involved in the Network.”

      At that she sat bolt upright, all her senses attuned. I could almost see her swaying back and forth, trying to determine the nature of the threat. She knew something was up, she just didn’t know what.

      She spoke carefully. “I met Madden at my last post-doc in California. He was doing a sabbatical there. I liked him, he liked my work. When this position came up he recommended me, and that’s what got me the interview. End of story.”