“Obviously,” Joan agrees and cocks her head slightly toward the hallway before she begins to walk. At home in the DPD, that would be a walk with me or an in my office but her expression’s mild and her tone stays even. Auggie’s been with her long enough, she thinks, to know the difference between the equivalent of in my office because she doesn’t want prying ears and the In My office. Now. with capitals even without the words.

The habit of being their boss and expecting them to listen to her requires caution in how they address each other until they’ve settled on a story that accounts for it. She’s reasonably confident they’ve stuck to their established covers, which means that with every click of her booted heels against the floor she is one step closer to establishing a group cover story for a task force they’re on together or were that explains why they treat her like the boss and why she will continue, for now at least, to expect them to, even if they are also friends.

“I know a place,” she says abruptly after almost a minute of silence. “The pastries are worth the calories and they make up for the ridiculous size of the coffee cups by giving you a carafe.” That is, they don’t hover and even the holograph-people that may also be listening devices, don’t have any reason to stand near. “Will that suit?” Although it’s phrased as a question, it isn’t one, unless they know of someplace better but even then, Joan would like to retain control of this little debriefing until she’s sure of a few things.