“This is where the motion sensors went off yesterday about four A.M. and then again this morning at the same time.” She projects her voice, and her tone is peppered with mockery and beneath that is rage. “When the sun was up I did a walk around. Everything looked normal.”

“Could she have been here in this spot and you didn’t see her?”

“She could have been. Especially if she’s rigged up something Harry Potterish. But it’s not fantasy. They’re engineering all sorts of materials these days that can change reality as we know it.”

“I think reality’s already been changed.” I don’t have my scene case with me so I improvise. “Possibly for good.”

Finding another clean glove, I drop the metamaterial inside and shake it down into one of the fingers. I tightly roll up the purple nitrile and tuck it into my pocket, noticing that directly ahead through the fence are the south windows of Lucy’s master suite. If someone had binoculars with night vision capabilities it could be a problem.

“Is that the way they usually are?” I point at her bedroom and what I’m asking is if she always keeps the shades down.

“It doesn’t matter. A scope with ultrasonic sensors can basically see through walls,” she replies in the same stage voice. “The purpose of a system like that is to continue to track targets after they duck behind cover …”

“Who would have such a thing?” I interrupt her as I feel a wave of impatience.

I’m tempted to tell her to keep her voice down but I won’t. It’s unwise for me to give any sign that I suspect the FBI is watching and listening. I know better than to behave as if I feel guilty and have things to hide so I continue to talk thoughtfully, what sounds like openly and comfortably. But I’m careful and deliberate and Lucy isn’t. She doesn’t have a flight switch only a fight one, and that’s what I’m witnessing and can’t begin to control.

“She’s been here. I can promise you that.” She says it with certainty and audacity, and I see the aggression in her intense green eyes. “Somehow she’s been right here using some sort of technology for a specific reason. Maybe to spy. I don’t know but it’s not the Feds. They aren’t that smart. It’s Carrie. She might be somewhere out here right this minute but they’ll never believe it. Maybe no one believes it’s her because why would anyone want to? Even my own partner isn’t sure.”