57JP is going to have to revise his slogan. Once you go Jacques-o-late, sometimes you do go back.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-THREE
When I look in my clutch, I realize that I don’t even have enough money for bus fare. I walk to Cuppa Cuppa.
“Hi, Roberta,” I say. “Do you mind if I sit here for a minute?” I just need to collect my thoughts.
“Of course.”
“I’m out of money.”
“I’ll start you a tab.”
The gesture gives me heartburn. I’m already in a lot of debt. I want to say yes, but I’m also like,MIA, YOU IDIOT, HAVE YOU LEARNED ANYTHING?!
“That’d be awesome.” I really need a coffee. I’ll repay Roberta before the bank. I have to, or I won’t be able to get coffee.
She fires up the coffee grinder. While it works, which takes forever, she shouts, “I saw your guy this morning.”
“Max? He was here?”
“Yeah, the good one.”
I laugh. I wonder if she knows JP, too.
“He wasn’t in the shop. I saw his video on Twitter, and OMG, he had me dyyyying!”
Twitter video? I take the coffee with mucho gratitude and sit down with my phone. I tap into the Twitter app and see that it’s actually a Moment. I tap into the original tweet, posted by a handle I don’t recognize, but I recognize the profile pic—it’s that bro I met outside the lab.
Talk about another flashback. Max is sitting in front of the screens in the lie detector room and Chan is wearing the scanner. They’re wearing the same outfits from yesterday so the video must have been recorded right after I left.
Max runs through a few questions to make sure the scanner is working, including Chan’s name and birthday.
“It’s working great.” Max looks up at Chan. “Do you have the list of phrases that Fay programmed in?”
Whoever is recording—probably the bro—is trying to stifle laughter. They obviously know what’s coming. They’re setting Max up.
Chan groans. “Dude, this is awkward.”
“Just read them. I have to know what she did so I can fix the program.”
Chan looks like he’d rather cut off a finger. “Here goes. They’re pretty personal. Brace yourself.” He takes a breath and says, “Here’s the first one:Next Generationis better thanVoyager.”
Max looks at the scanner. “Do you believe that?”
“Of course, Max. I’m not an idiot.Next Genall the way.”
“It’s coming up as false.” With a really confused look he says, “She bugged the software with lies aboutStar Trek?Any bug would mess with the software, but…”
The way Chan says, “It gets worse,” I believe him.
“Fay think she’s funny,” Max says.
Fay is funny, I silently correct. This is the most ridiculous breakup stunt I’ve ever seen.
Chan reads the next one. “Fay likesStar Trek.”
