“Maybe not. We don’t really know how the brain stores memories,” Alex says. “We don’t know how variable that is. There’s been somnambulist cases of people driving without having memory of it, or even murdering someone, and obviously alcohol drinkers get blackouts or brownouts in which people can also drive, hold entire conversations, or have sex with someone. I mean god, I know I have!”

“How can this be natural. It’s so strange!” Carmen protests.

“But not strange enough,” replies Alex, “to overturn the null hypothesis. That this was all an accident.”

Carmen, gesturing her doubt with her hands, continues—“What if this was something else gone awry? Like maybe Atif’s death was indeed an accident. And the reason a smart top-tier young neuroscientist fell onto the subway tracks was because he was drugged, and originally there was a different target.”

“Are you saying it was one of the Crick Scholars? One of us?”

“No!” Carmen says. Then—“I’m not saying it. Okay. I’m just listing hypotheses.”

“Fine. Just don’t go accusing people of things,” Jessica says.

“I’m not! There’s just a lot that’s odd. Like something happened to us. Has anyone . . .” she says, “experienced any . . . continued effects?”

The table is silent.

“I’ll go,” Jessica says. “Because I didn’t connect any of this until now. Um, the day before last I was walking around the city and it all . . . Sorry, I don’t know how to say this. All the buildings were teeth. It creeps me out to even say it. I’ve been trying not to think about it. It was like a dream. But I was . . . I was awake.”

There is further silence. Jessica lays her hand on her chest. “I keep losing stuff. I don’t know. It didn’t used to happen. And it’s umm, pretty weird. Like I couldn’t find the milk. And then it turned out I had put it away in the cupboard. I don’t know, it could just be a coincidence.”

Kierk pauses. “I heard something. At my door. Twice. But once was before Atif’s death. And this morning I woke up in the tub.”

Alex, eyebrows raised, shaking his head—“I’m fine.” But then he cocks his head to think, frowning. “Well . . . There was this one thing. I was at work. This was like, two days ago. I sat down in the morning and then it was the afternoon. But it all happened really quickly. Time passed like it was a blink. I thought maybe I was just really busy but now . . .”

“Has anyone felt like they were being followed?” All eyes turn toward Carmen, who asked the question. Then, slowly, Kierk nods. So does Carmen. Alex makes a considering face, like he’s internally debating, before making a gesture of unsure confirmation. Jessica puts a hand over her mouth, eyes fearful, almost crying. She nods. All stare at one another wordlessly.