“True. And Barkley, although he’s more likely to lick someone to death.” I looked at the communicator. “Y’know, this thing would be a lot more usable if I could pair some headphones with it. As it is, stealth is out of the question.”

“A set of earbuds is, in fact, available. Designed for Gen ears, though. I doubt you’d find them comfortable. Actually, I think you’d feel violated if you actually managed to get them inserted.”

“Ooooookayyyyyy … I did not need that visual. Look, Sheldon, is the intruder doing anything more than skulking around?”

“Not so far. I believe he is trying for subtlety. Unsuccessfully.”

I reluctantly dragged myself out of bed and put on my pants and shoes. I grabbed the communicator and the disruptor, then swore. “Flashlight. Of course it’s in the barn. Because where else would it be?” One more item to take care of.

Barkley, always ready for adventure, perked up the moment I came down the stairs, and ran circles around me all the way to the back door. I raised the communicator and said in a low voice, “Status?”

“Still poking around. He’s activated the motion detectors twice. He may finally be getting a clue.”

“Okay, we’re coming out.”

I opened the door and Barkley shot out, apparently having detected the odor of a stranger. The dog’s name was well earned, as he set up a verbal assault that would wake the undead, if we had any around.

I jogged around to the barn and scanned the area, being careful to stay out of range of the motion detectors.

“He’s left, Jack. It appears the highly irritating calls of your pet have a repelling effect.”

“Was it the same guy?”

“I could not tell. He didn’t get close enough. I would hate to think we’ve attracted two different covert investigations.”

“Yeah, but I wouldn’t rule out anything at this point. Call me again if something more happens, but I think for tonight at least, if all they do is snoop around the periphery, I don’t really care.”

I trudged back to the house with Barkley running excited circles around me, flopped back into bed without undressing, and was asleep immediately.

Chapter Nineteen: Shoring Up Defenses

Chapter Nineteen: Shoring Up Defenses

Day 13. Wednesday evening

“We’re never going to get anywhere,” Nat grumbled. “This whole project is nothing but constant reaction to whatever current crisis we’re in, then preparation for the next one.”

“So, pretty normal, in other words,” I replied.

“Hah hah hah.” Nat turned away and opened her laptop. “You guys work on the webcams and shit. I’m going to do some data analysis.”