‘Police Constable Isobel Morrow!’

She smiled, blinked hard and walked on stage. She could feel her mother’s smile without ever having to see it, walking into it was like walking into bright sunlight. She blinked hard, shook the Commodore’s hand and walked off stage. She had never been prouder.

‘Izzy?’

She shook herself to clear the memory and let the real world sink back in around her. Almost immediately she wished she hadn’t. She was lying in a hospital bed, with electrodes gripping her chest, head and arms. She was wearing a surgical gown and she could tell from the flow of air over her body that it was designed to be as unflattering as possible. The technician working over her came into sharp focus and smiled. She recognised him as Lucas Pugh.

‘Hi Lucas.’

‘Lost you there for a minute.’

She forced a smile. ‘One of my occasional happy places.’

Looking around, she familiarised herself with her surroundings as the memories settled back into place. She was in the secure wing of the local hospital and now she could see Lucas was far from alone. Three other doctors were tending to her and further off, another two were staring intently at a bank of monitoring equipment. To their right was a nurse with a crash cart, a detail which Izzy found both touching and intimidating. Beyond them were a thick set of doors and beyond the doors were the forms of two officers in full armour. Nash was nowhere in sight and as she realised that, she felt the reason why drop back into place.

‘How’s Nash?’

She closed her eyes. ‘Do you see him anywhere nearby?’

Lucas winced. ‘Sorry. Now, you’re all set. Do you want the memory transmitted to your Drop or do want to take it direct?’

She nodded, forcing her breathing to slow. ‘I’ll take it direct.’

Lucas smiled and squeezed her hand. ‘I’ll swap them. This may tickle.’

‘God I hope so.’

He’d slipped under the gurney and she heard his laughter at the same time she felt his gloved hand brush against her Drop and remove it. Even though she knew there was almost no difference between the two devices, wearing Coben’s felt dirty somehow. Soiled.

‘Transferred.’ Lucas popped back up into view and carefully sealed Izzy’s drop into a zip lock bag. ‘I’ll keep this safe.’

‘Thanks.’

He squeezed her hand again, looked like he wanted to say something then turned and stood behind the monitors. When he spoke again, his voice was tight and brittle.

.