Page 40 (1/2)

Where are you now?

A few seconds pass with no response Maybe Kenn put too much faith in me, or too little faith in Hideo’s stubbornness I bite e

I have ency

Info fro I can think of to say that s on Just when I’ about e appears I confirm my identity to unlock it, and in return, an address pops up inin relief Then I store the location in e

Beside ame? We need the waiter to coo find him!" I say, then ets to the fun that none of them will notice I’ve left Plenty of tiood excuse I exit the roo up old dot pops up somewhere in the northern area of the city I hurry down a side corridor Moments later, the hall leadsand near its garbage bins

A cold drizzle has dampened the sidewalk, and as I step outside, I’ainst the wetness, painting the ground a reen, and blue The city block’s nuht yellow letters over the paveold dotted line leads froht and disappears froe and an esti for me to follow the htly up so that it covers all of my hair, and pull on a black face uise ed in to the NeuroLink should now see nize frouise Then I throw my electric skateboard down and juold line

Half an hour later, I ehborhood on a hill overlooking the city The travel ti down the minutes that it will take for me to arrive The drizzle has turned into a steady rain now, soaking through

Finally, I’ates of a warm, well-lit estate with a curved wall and carved lions outside its doorway I don’t kno ht, at least five cars are sitting here, and two bodyguards are at the front gate, waiting to greet me Others look like they’re scattered around the estate

One of them approaches me now, then tells me to hold out my arms I turn off hly, pausing to inspect my board When he’s satisfied, he holds out an umbrella for me as I hurry to the entrance

"It’s okay, I don’t need the umbrella anymore," I tell the ets this order, I gesture toclothes "Seriously"

He reluctantly puts it down, and alk in silence for athe front entrance Inside the house, I hear a dog barking

Hideo answers the door His bodyguard blinks in surprise, as if this is not so Hideo does often He’s still dressed in his clothes from earlier, but one sleeve of his shirt is pushed up to his elbohile he’s undoing the cuff link on his other sleeve His collar is flipped up, the top buttons open, and his black tie is draped loosely over his shoulders His hair is da white He looks concerned and bewildered, a sudden, startling reet

"You’re soaking wet," he says

"And you’re alive," I reply "That’s good"

The bodyguard leaves us alone Hideo opens the door wide and usherswith short legs and enors its stubby tail, and looks up at orously, then remove my wet shoes near the doorway and step inside