Chapter 18 · The Relay

"Vera."

Her father's voice cut through the phone while her soldering iron was still pressed to the circuit board. The green light on the half-built interference device blinked beside her thumb.

"You're not at the gala," he said. "I looked for you."

Vera pulled the iron away before it burned through the board. "I'm working. Late analysis. You know how it is."

"No, I don't." His voice stayed calm. That was worse than shouting. "I know you're in the lab. I can see your badge location on the building network."

Her gaze dropped to the ID clipped inside her coat. A tiny blue LED blinked near the edge.

She'd never seen it do that before.

"Come to the gala," Dad said. "Now. I want you onstage."

"I can't. I'm in the middle of—"

"Vera." The warning in his voice locked her jaw. "This is the most important night of my life. You're my daughter. You'll be there."

"Dad, if you need a researcher for your speech, grab someone else."

"I've sent a car. Five minutes."

The call ended.

Her phone buzzed again before she could move.

Iris: *What's happening? He just smiled at the camera.