Page 60 of Spies Don’t Fall for Their Best Friend

I look at Miles. “Hostile movement?”

Another series of locks engages with loud metallic clunks. “That’s the exterior lockdown,” he says.

“How many kinds of lockdown are there?”

He considers. “I’m not sure that information would make you feel better.”

Charlie pushes between a stack of Christmas bins and Rick’s old desk. She slides open what I thought was a plain section of wall, revealing several large computer monitors and a control panel that looks advanced enough to launch satellites.

I stare at it. “All of this is for a tornado warning?”

“The weather system and security system are separate,” Charlie says as her fingers move quickly across the controls. Multiple camera views appear on the screens. Rain lashes the property. Tree branches bend violently in the wind. One camera shows an enormous tree lying across part of the yard. Charlie enlarges that image. “There. The tree took out two perimeter sensors.”

The pleasant voice speaks again. “Unidentified entity advancing from west perimeter.”

Charlie changes camera views and sighs. “It thinks the shed is moving toward the house.”

Blake folds his arms and, in a flat voice, says, “A normal house does not need threat levels.”

Evelyn looks at him. “This house has survived more than your normal house.”

Mackenzie gestures toward the monitors. “The house accused a shed of hostile intent.”

Heidi peeks over Blake’s shoulder. “Can Grandma’s house shoot lasers?”

“No,” Charlie says too quickly.

I look at Miles. He gives me an innocent expression. I narrow my eyes at him as my brain starts assembling several increasingly ridiculous explanations involving government secrets, organized crime, and/or vigilante superheroes.

Charlie continues working at the monitors. “The power outage, generator switch, damaged sensors, and wind buffeting the cameras all happened close enough together that the system interpreted it as a coordinated breach. I’ll need to spend some time adjusting the thresholds.”

In a voice edged with more impatience than alarm, Evelyn says, “Charlie, all we need to know right now is: are we under attack?”

“No.”

“Is the house on fire?”

“No.”

“Are there any immediate threats?”

Charlie checks the storm data, then the cameras. “Not unless the shed learns how to walk.”

“Excellent. Everything else can wait.” Evelyn points toward the circle. “Get back over here. Nothing else is stopping this proposal. Okay? Nothing.”

There’s a collective laugh, and a few people hoot and clap. Charlie closes the security panel and rejoins the circle next to Owen.

Evelyn turns to Ledger and Zoe, who are standing in the center of the room. “Proceed.”

Zoe lifts her chin. “I started first.”

Ledger looks at her. “You technically didn’t reach the question.”

“I was clearly headed toward it.”

“So was I.”

“One of you ask,” Evelyn says, “before the generator fails and I do it for you.”