“The words Baer and innocent don’t go together,” she said. “If there’s trouble, Brock is involved.”

Decker said, “We’ll be in touch. And, Tanya, keep an eye out.”

“’Preciate the concern, but I got Sassy Sally,” Tanya said. “I’m ready for anything.”

SITTING AT HIS desk inside his suite, eyes on his computer, Chris called out to me, “You’ve got to look at the screen next to the code box.”

I was outside trying to sync my retinal scan with the machine. “I am looking at the screen.”

“It’s not registering.” He regarded my craning neck and smiled. “You’re way too short.” He got up and rolled his desk chair out the door. “Can you balance on this without falling on your ass?”

“Remains to be seen.”

“I’ll get you something to stand on later, but try this in the meantime.”

“You don’t have a stepladder?”

“Why the hell would I need a stepladder?” He helped me onto the seat. “Just kneel. You should be eye to eye with the screen.”

When he took his hand away from mine, I wobbled.

“Okay?” he asked.

“Fine.”

“Just stare into the screen and don’t move until I tell you to.”

He went back to his computer and I did as he instructed, always a good student. It took a minute.

He said, “Great. Now put your right thumb on the screen.”

I complied.

When he was done, he helped me off the chair and we went back inside the room. He pulled out three keys. “The pupil and thumb recognition will allow you to unlock the door once it gives you the green light. These are your copies. I know they work because I’ve tried them out. First, let’s see if you can go outside by yourself. Then we’ll see if you can get inside.”

Everything worked. But it was a strain. The door was enormously heavy to open and close. But I managed to do it and lock up without the alarm going off. After it was over, he handed me the keys. “Your partial freedom.”

“Partial?”

“We’ll have to program the entrance and downstairs elevator to get you up here. And then we’ll have to program you into the system if you want to get in and out of Gabe’s room to see your daughter.”

“That would be great. When can we do that?”

“Some other time. But I’ll do it. I promise.”

“Thank you.”

“No problem.” A pause. “Terry, I have beeps on my computer that trigger when someone is going in and out of the doors upstairs and using my private elevator. I also have cameras all over the place. But my eyes and ears can’t be everywhere at the same time.”

“I’ll let you know what I’m doing beforehand.”