36

POST-TRIAL INTERVIEW

DR. FOSTER: Does it hurt, Ana? Does it hurt knowing Owen betrayed you intentionally?

ANA: No.

DR. FOSTER: Does it make you angry?

ANA: You make me angry.

DR. FOSTER: Would you like to hear the recording again?

ANA: No, thank you.

DR. FOSTER: Come on, just one more time. It’ll be fun. [Presses PLAY.]

Supervisor’s voice:—which is why we have reason to believe the pattern may be spreading to the Fantasists, and we’d like you to take a closer look at one of them.

Owen’s voice: How would the study work? What does a Proctor do, exactly?

Supervisor’s voice: We’ll need you to talk to her. As the Proctor, you’ll get to know her. Ideally, once a baseline trust has been established, we can begin testing her acute anxiety response, pushing her out of her comfort zone to see how she deals with unpredictability. We’ll provide highly detailed scripts, of course. And coaching, via an earpiece.

Owen’s voice: I’m very honored you thought of me.

Supervisor’s voice: It’s an honor having such a bright young man on our team. [Pause.] You know which Fantasist we mean, obviously?

Owen’s voice: [Laughs.] Yes, of course. Ana. When will the study begin?

Supervisor’s voice: We expect she’ll find you, soon enough. [Chuckles.] Remember, she’s tracking you. And she still has your pocketknife.