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New York
After their meeting with Louise Phillips and then hacking the REBAR central data base, Zoe and Izzie dropped off Izzie’s overnight bag, said hello to the kitties, and went to a local café a block away from Zoe’s apartment. When they finished dinner they decided to bring some New York–style cheesecake back to Zoe’s and completely unwind. Before they went to bed they promised they would sleep in and hang out in their pajamas the following morning.
Zoe was the first one up, thanks to Betty and Buster. They didn’t care how tired their mommy was. They wanted breakfast. And if Zoe didn’t feed them, they would find the remote to the television and turn it on. She reminded herself every night to put it in a drawer. If they couldn’t access the remote, they would find something to knock off her desk or the counter. As long as it made a loud noise, they didn’t care. Betty was the blabbermouth of the two, meowing orders for Zoe to move faster.
“Shush . . . we have company,” Zoe said as she tiptoed past the second bedroom, which doubled as Zoe’s home office. Or vice versa.
“I’m awake,” Izzie called out.
“Sorry. Did we wake you?” Zoe asked.
“Nope. First it was the garbage trucks. Do they always come by at three in the morning?”
Zoe pursed her lips. “I haven’t noticed.”
“And ambulances? Do they come around often?”
“I also haven’t noticed.” Zoe made a curious face. “I seem to be immune to the noise.”
“I guess that’s a good thing if you’re going to live here.”
Zoe entered the room where Izzie was lounging on the bed. “You know, that’s kind of scary. I remember one time when I was at a convention in Las Vegas. We were in a huge, relatively new hotel. One morning when I went down for breakfast, one of my colleagues asked me where I was during the fire alarm. ‘What fire alarm?’ I asked. And then they told me. An alarm went off around four A.M. and I slept right through it. I was horrified. But then when I got back home, it occurred to me how lucky I was that the hotel hadn’t gone up in a blaze.”
“That is scary. Was there a fire?”
“No, just some smoke from the kitchen, but it got through a few vents and set off the alarms.” Zoe shook her head. “There is so much you become immune to when you live in a city like New York.”
Izzie clutched one of the pillows in front of her. “I suppose you have to.”
“True. But that doesn’t mean it’s a good thing.” Zoe frowned. “You have to wonder how oblivious you’ve become.”
“Speak for yourself, girlie,” Izzie joked. “I’m only oblivious when Abner is discussing things I know nothing about.”
“But hasn’t he taught you lots of stuff ?”
“Oh, sure. But so much of it is data drivel.” She rolled her eyes. “So how about some coffee?”
Betty and Buster were complaining about being ignored. “Them first,” Zoe said and exited to the kitchen, where she pulled out two small cans of cat food. Each of her pets had their preferences. Betty liked chicken; Buster preferred salmon. Zoe chuckled to herself about how similar cats were to people.
Izzie padded into the kitchen and pulled out a bar stool. “I never understood why kitchens in New York were so small.”
“I think landlords have a deal going with the local restaurants and takeout joints.”
“I mean, it’s not like people don’t cook. I cannot imagine raising a family with a toy-size oven and stove.”
“I remember those when I was a kid. When I first moved in here I had something that looked like it was from the 1950s.”
“Speaking of kids’ toy kitchens, I saw one that was going for almost two thousand dollars!” Izzie remarked. “You can buy a regular-size range for that kind of money.”
“That kid better end up on the Food Network.” Zoe laughed. She pushed the plunger down on the French press. “Cream?”
“Oh yes, please. I never understood putting skim milk in coffee. Why bother? I get it if you’re going to drink a glass and are concerned about the fat content, but please. A tablespoon of cream isn’t going to kill you.”
“But drinking lousy coffee can!” Zoe chuckled. “I’m a coffee snob.”
“What time is the opera?” Izzie asked.
“Matinee is at two. Then dinner reservations at the Union Square Cafe.”
