“I have an idea,” he said. “It doesn’t have to do with the four of us, but it might help me, if the device can help me.”

“With what?”

“There’s a traffic camera right on the corner near the restaurant that might have caught something; maybe the device could hack into it?”

“Actually, Eli said he saw egg yolk on this guy Christos’s shoes. He said he would text you about it.”

“I haven’t really checked my phone since this morning.”

The device: The text is there. I can read it for you.

“No need,” Marwan said.

The device lit up: Permission to switch to voice mode?

Marwan said, “Permission granted,” and shrugged awkwardness at Eden. “You didn’t ask for permission in Panera.”

The device used its female voice: “I sensed that displeased you and am trying to be more considerate. I’ll try to find the video you requested.”

Eden and Marwan raised eyebrows at each other. She sounded so breezy and competent.

Eden’s phone buzzed so she took it out. Another text from Julian: If you really liked me, you would send pic.

“I just have to text my mom real quick,” Eden said.

She wrote, You’re seriously crazy.

The device spoke: “Marwan, I’ve found the video from the traffic cam near the restaurant.”

Eden checked for a new text—nothing—and put her phone away.

“Playing video clip now,” the device said.

It was a poor-quality video of a car driving down a street and stopping to let people out; specifically two people in hoodies holding egg cartons.

“I’m pretty sure it’s him. Christos, I mean. Can you blow up the license plate?”

The device rewound the footage and froze it and zoomed and focused.

“I can run this plate for you now, if you like?” she said.

“You can?” Eden said.

“Yes, please,” Marwan said.

“What are you going to do if you get a confirmation that it’s him?” Eden said. “Like how will you explain it to the police that you have the license plate?”

“I’m not going to the police,” Marwan said. “If it’s Christos and those guys I’m taking it right to their doorstep.”

“What do you mean?” Eden asked.

“I mean I’m going to give them a taste of their own medicine.”

“I really don’t think that’s smart,” Eden said.

“Well, it didn’t happen to you and your family,” Marwan said. “Maybe you’d feel differently if it was you.”

“Don’t you want them to be officially charged and all?” Eden said.

“What good would that do?” he asked. “Stuff like this is just going to keep happening.”

“Well, it’s going to keep on happening whether you, like, retaliate or not. Even if it gets them to stop, they’re just one family. It’s better for the police to handle it.”

“But they’re not handling it,” he said.