Be gentle. “Are a lot of the staff going?”

“A few, but I’ll make sure you get a seat close to the stage. Come on back, Sunshine, I need to make you a security card and record a thermal image of your face.” Raymond unlocks the steel security gate and holds it open for her by flexing his triceps. Dominique feels his eyes running over her as she passes through.

“Have a seat over there, we’ll take care of the security card first. I’ll need your driver’s license.”

She hands it to him, then sits in an upright chair positioned before a black machine the size of a refrigerator. Raymond loads a square disk into a slot on one side, then types in her information on the computer.

“Smile.” The flash explodes in her eyes, leaving an annoying spot. “I’ll have the card ready by the time you leave tonight.” He hands back her driver’s license. “Okay, come over here and have a seat in front of this infrared camera. Ever have your face mapped?”

Ever have your back shaved? “Uh, not that I know of.”

“The infrared camera creates a unique image of your face by registering the heat emitted by the blood vessels beneath your skin. Even identical twins look different under infrared, and facial patterns never changes. The computer records nineteen hundred different thermal points. Pupil scans use 266 measurable characteristics, while fingerprints only have forty—”

“Ray, this is fascinating—really—but is it necessary? I haven’t seen anyone use an infrared scan.”

“That’s because you haven’t been here at night. The magnetic strip on your identification card is all you’ll need to enter or exit the facility during the day. But after seven-thirty, you’ll need to enter your password, then allow the infrared scanner to identify you. The machine will compare your thermal facial features with the ones we’re about to place on your permanent file. No one gets in or out of this facility at night without being scanned, and nothing fools the machine. Smile.”

Dominique stares sullenly at the sphere-shaped camera behind the plate-glass window, feeling foolish.

“Okay, turn to your left. Good. Now right, now look down. Done. Hey, Sunshine, do you like Italian?”

Here we go. “Sometimes.”

“There’s a great place not far from here. What time you get off?”

“Tonight’s not really a good—”

“When is good?”

“Ray, I have to be honest, I usually make it a rule not to date anyone on staff.”

“Who said anything about a date? I said dinner.”

“If it’s just dinner, then yes, I’d love to go sometime, but tonight’s really not good. Give me a few weeks to get situated.” And to work on another excuse. She smiles sweetly, hoping to ease the pain of rejection. “Besides, you can’t go out for a big Italian meal if you’re in training.”