Nazarin tells me about the party, and that he wishes he could somehow add my name to the guest list, as starting there versus at the Verve lounge would be easier. The look on his face when I tell him Tila has an invitation too and I should probably go with him is priceless.

I’ve hidden all her notes, but I bring up the invitation onto the wallscreen. I tell him I found it in her hard drive. It’s a white lie, and pretty rich considering I just made him promise to be honest with me in all things. I can’t mention the other files, though. I haven’t had a chance to translate them all yet, and there could be something incriminating in them. She’s my sister. I get first look. If I find anything useful, I’ll tell him.

I give him the sketch of Ensi to take back to headquarters, as well. He shakes his head in amazement. “This is what he looks like? Do you know how long we’ve been trying to find this out? This alone will help us so much.”

Good, I think. Maybe that’ll make it easier for the government to let my sister go. Regardless of what she might have done.

That night I’m strapped into the Chair yet again, to download more confidential information on the Ratel from the SFPD. Since I’ve been undercover, I haven’t seen another cop except in these scenes. But they’re there. They’ll be ringed around the Xanadu, hidden, supposedly lending whatever support they can, with another few stationed at the safe house. Though I know as well as Nazarin that if we’re truly in trouble at that party, they’re unlikely to go in and blow the SFPD’s cover. We have until Saturday to prepare me as much as possible.

We’ll be on our own.

The next day is Thursday. One week since my life turned upside down. It doesn’t seem possible. Nazarin is away for most of the day with more Ratel activities. More security. More drop-offs of Verve, to other Zealot lounges.

I wonder how far he goes when he’s undercover. How deeply does he play his role? Does he hurt people? His actions do, at the very least. By his delivering a weapon of a vial of Verve, someone will be harmed or killed. Soon, I’ll see what he does firsthand.

Soon, I might have to do some of it myself.