‘I know that having four people assigned is a little heavy for a spot check,’ she said. ‘Isn’t that something you only need one agent for?’

‘For you, Dr Anderson, the royal treatment,’ he said. ‘How are the biologics coming along?’

‘Fine,’ she said, and flicked a glance at Claire. ‘Let’s discuss this in private.’

‘Just a minute,’ said the dark-suited woman, stepping forward. ‘Your name is’ – she made a show of checking her phone – ‘Claire Danvers, correct?’

‘She’s my lab assistant,’ Dr Anderson said. ‘What’s the point?’

‘Well, we’re doing background checks,’ the agent said. ‘I’ll need to schedule an in-depth interview.’

‘An interview? What for?’ Claire asked.

‘For security reasons,’ said the main guy. ‘That’s all you need to know. Is she read in on your projects?’

‘No, she just arrived,’ Dr Anderson said. She turned toward Claire. ‘I do some work for these people. They tend to be just a little bit paranoid, I’m afraid, even though what we’re working on is pretty mundane. Nothing to worry about.’ She sent a smile toward the other woman. ‘Look at her, she’s eighteen. You seriously think she could be a spy?’

‘I think kids younger than eighteen have done amazing and terrible things,’ the woman said. ‘Miss Danvers, I’ll be in touch for your interview. Until then, she has no access to anything related to your projects with us. Understood?’

‘Completely understood,’ Anderson said. She nodded to Claire. ‘You’d best be on your way, Claire. This doesn’t concern you.’

‘Okay,’ Claire said, and hesitated for a second. There was a very weird feeling in the air, in the way these four official types were facing off with her professor. ‘Are you sure you don’t need me to call anyone, or …?’

The woman looked irritated. ‘Who do you think you’re going to call? Beat it before I find a security reason to make you stay.’

Dr Anderson gave her a look that Claire interpreted as go ahead, and Claire collected her backpack and headed for the door to badge out. As she did, she turned back and said, ‘Oh, Dr Anderson, should I let your next appointment know you’ll be delayed?’

‘Yes,’ Anderson said, without any hesitation at all. ‘Just call Dr Florey and let him know.’

‘I will,’ she said.

Dr Florey. Jesse and Pete had said they worked at Florey’s Bar and Grill. And of course, Jack Florey himself was an entirely imaginary person, the mascot of Fifth East. So there was definitely a message in that.

The door opened, and Claire exited before any of the agents could ask her anything else. She walked quickly down the hall, expecting to hear fast footsteps behind her; she half expected her badge to fail at the next security station, but it flashed green as she swiped it, and she escaped into the academic side of the building.