46

Millie pulled the back off the cell phone, popped in the microchip, and slid the back into place.

Teddy clicked the stopwatch. “Two-point-seven.”

“I can do better.”

“I’m sure you can. What about your lift?”

“You want me to pick your pocket?”

“I’m a bad subject to practice on.”

“Why?”

“I tend to react.”

“You won’t if you don’t feel anything.”

“I will, and it will wreck your confidence. You’ll have to try someone else.”

Teddy was teaching Millie how to lift a cell phone and place a bug. He was pretty sure she could do it, just not to him.

“Tell me about your hacker friend.”

“He’s good.”

“I’m sure he is. Is he trustworthy?”

“Absolutely.”

“You don’t sound sure.”

“If I tell him not to talk, he won’t talk.”

“I don’t have time to vet him. This is all on you.”

“I understand. I lose my job if he can’t cut it. Do you think I want that to happen?”

“We all lose a lot more than that. All right, I’m taking him at your word. Give him a call.”

“That won’t work.”

“Why not?”

Holly Barker smiled. “Young people don’t call anymore. They text each other.”

“Okay, text him, then.”

“That won’t work, either,” Millie said. “Some days he doesn’t even look at his texts.”

“This is the dependable guy you vouch for?”

“He’s fine in the areas you want. But I’ll have to go see him in person.”

“Why?”

“He’s a little . . . eccentric.”