“Okay, you two,” Lin says. “Visitor. Good thing I looked up when I did. That Poe guy makes absolutely no sound. Zero. He’s a fucking ghoul.”

I uncoil myself from Lorenzo’s arms with enough force to slam me backward, into the wall. My ears ring with the monotonous thunder of the machine and Jackie’s words. Lin, cool as a cuke, takes me by the hand and leads me to the main area of the lab.

“What the hell was that?” Poe says. “It sounded like the goddamned building was falling apart.”

“Magnetic resonance imaging,” Lin says. “It’s supposed to sound like that.”

Poe grunts. “Why was it on? The other ones aren’t on.”

“We only have one other one,” I say, looking toward the first MRI room.

Instead of responding, Poe starts a slow tour around the lab, opening drawers and cabinets. He makes no sound, as Lin said, and it occurs to me that, if Lin hadn’t been here while Lorenzo and I were making out to the tune of a thrumming machine, I’d be joining Julia King on a podium, listening to Reverend Carl recite his morality tracts. We never would have heard Poe enter, not until it was too late.

By the look on his face, this possibility has occurred to Lorenzo as well.

“Morgan wants to see you in his office,” Poe says, addressing me. “Now.”

I leave Sharon Ray’s number with Lorenzo and Lin, telling them to set something up for Monday morning. With any luck, we’ll be ready over the weekend, and I want Mrs. Ray in here as soon as possible. If I can give her a voice again, Sharon and Del might be more receptive to the favor I plan on asking.

In the elevator, Poe sticks his key card into a slot and presses the button for the fifth floor. It’s the first time I noticed the slot, and I assume only the floors with our offices and the lab are accessible without a key. The doors open, and Poe extends a hand.

“This way,” he says.

The fifth-floor corridor is plush, more like a five-star hotel than a government science building. My shoes make no sound on the thick carpet—blue, naturally. As we walk, I read the names on the doors. General So-and-So, Admiral So-and-So, Dr. So-and-So. All men’s names. A few of them stare out at me through semi-open doors. One scowls.

Morgan is at his desk when Poe knocks. He calls “Enter!” in a small voice he’s trying to make big. I want to tell him it doesn’t work.

“Where were you this morning?” he says without looking up from whatever he’s reading.

“I had a family issue. A neighbor was supposed to look after my daughter, and—”