"We used the back entrance," Alex lied quickly.
"We don't HAVE a back entrance!"
"The... fire escape?"
"THE FIRE ESCAPE IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BUILDING!"
[She's smart,]
System observed.
[You're going to have to tell her something closer to the truth.]
"No I'm not," Alex muttered.
"THERE YOU GO AGAIN!" Sally pointed at him accusingly. "Talking to yourself! Or—WAIT. Are you talking to someone we can't see? Do you have an EARPIECE? Is this a SPY thing?! Did you join the CIA?! Are these your Hot CIA HANDLERS?!"
"I'm not in the CIA!"
"That's exactly what someone in the CIA would SAY!"
Drakar, who had been watching this entire exchange with visible delight, finally laughed—a warm, rumbling sound that made Sally stop mid-accusation.
"Your sister is delightful," he said to Alex. "I see where you get your stubborn refusal to accept simple explanations."
