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That was his cue Rick goggled, sparing Shaun and , “Where are we?”

“The senator considers it wise to keep a second local residence for ave his with people who didn’t feel co around the horses?”

“I’m sure I wouldn’t be qualified to speak to that, Miss Mason”

That o?”

“This way, please” He led us to a steel-reinforced door, where I was surprised to see a lack of the custo units There also wasn’t a doorknob Shaun and I exchanged a glance as Steve tapped his earpiece, saying, “Base, we’re at the west door Release”

Soreen The door slid open There was a soft outrush of air as the hall on the other side was revealed; it was a positive-pressure zone, designed to force air out rather than allowing it to flow in and cause a contamination risk

“No wonder they don’t need blood tests” I followed Steve into the hall with Shaun and Rick close behind hts in the hall were bright enough to hurtcloser to Shaun and letting the blurry uide uards waited, each holding a large plastic tray

“The senator would prefer thisnot be broadcast or recorded,” Steve said “If you would please place all nonessential equipment here, it will be returned to you at the end of the ,” said Shaun

“I don’t think he is,” I said, turning toward Steve “You want us to walk in there naked?”

“We can put up an EMP privacy screen if you don’t think we can trust you to leave your toys behind,” said Steve His tone was htness around his eyes said he knew exactly howand he wasn’t happy about it “The choice is yours”

An EMP privacy screen sufficient to secure an area would fry half of our e to the rest Replacing that et for , all three of us began stripping off our equip it into the trays The guards stood there i my ear cuff into my hand, I looked to Steve “So do we have to be totally radio silent, or are we allowed to keep our phones?”

“You can keep any private data recorders that will be used solely for the purposes of taking personal notes, and any telecommunications devices that can be deactivated for the duration of the ”

“Swell” I dropped my ear cuff into the tray and slipped ely exposed without e devices, as if the world held a lot ers than it had a fewthis?”