Patrick dropped us off in a satellite parking area that wasn’t visible from the admin offices or the Harris building. While it seemed unlikely, if someone spotted Karen and her assistant, Marc, getting out of an unfamiliar car, it might raise questions.

“We’ll have to go the long way around,” Nat said. “Sheldon, what’s the status with the real Karen and Marc?”

“They have departed for the day, having driven off in separate vehicles.”

“I wonder if there’s a Lorannic bunkhouse somewhere,” I muttered.

“Unlikely, Jack. They will make a point of being as apparently normal as possible. It is likely that a number of people having the same mailing address would raise red flags with more than one government department.”

“Which doesn’t matter if the Loranna have taken over,” I said.

“If their infiltration was that thorough, they wouldn’t really need to be subtle,” Sheldon replied. “They could just launch the missiles, instead of having to scrap all the environmental laws and start promoting coal.”

“Well, let’s hope.”

Nat punched me in the arm. “Stop being a Dickie Downer. And when we get there, follow my lead. Remember, that’s my home turf.”

I responded with an insolent salute. “Yeah, yeah.”

The moment of truth came swiftly, and the entrance to the Harris Institute stood before us. Nat hesitated only a moment, then strode forward like she owned the place.

The guard glanced up when we entered, appeared momentarily surprised, then glanced down. Apparently, whatever he saw reassured him, as his face relaxed.

Nat strode past him with a small nod, heading for the elevators. I tried to avoid hunching my back, despite the feeling that I was going to be shot at any moment. I meekly followed my pseudo-boss through the lobby.

As soon as we were out of sight, I started to speak, but was cut off by a comment from Sheldon.

“Do not speak aloud unless absolutely necessary. Video and audio surveillance is likely, and I won’t be able to lip-synch to your commentary, so you’ll look like a ventriloquist act, which will definitely create suspicion. If you want to talk to me or to each other, subvocalize and I will retransmit it.”

I clamped my lips shut. This would be a very quiet walk through the building.

We quickly reached the third floor and strode down the hall. We encountered one person going the other way. He cocked his head at seeing us and said something in what had to be Lorannic. My cling-on supplied the translation. “You’re back, Karen? I thought you said you were going to be preparing for the status meeting.”

“Karen” replied in the same guttural tones, which translated as “Forgot something. I won’t be long, though.”

The other individual seemed unbothered, merely nodding and continuing on.