“What are we doing here, Alexei? You were insistent that I come in person,” Dahlia said.

“Both of our groups have seen increased hacking activity in recent weeks. Our independent analysis has concluded that it wasn’t Black Iris. I’m sure you’ve come to a similar conclusion, otherwise you wouldn’t be here,” Alexei said.

“At first we thought the hackers were script kiddies, but after reviewing signs of an advanced, persistent threat, we changed our assessment,” Nigel said.

Hunter looked at Nigel like he was an annoying fly.

“We’ve seen similar findings, but it means nothing,” Jony said.

“None of this feels right,” Natasha said.

“Each of us only has bits and pieces of information. We need to complete the parts of the puzzle so that each group understands the bigger picture. Only then can we understand what is at stake here,” Mr. Tage said. He was standing at the head of the table.

No one said anything for a long time.

“Now, who among you will go first? I suggest we start by having each party provide their respective points of view. Let’s start with Christmas night. Any takers?” Mr. Tage urged.

Mr. Tage looked around the room, sat, and then yawned.

“Fine, I will start!” Alexei said.

Jony gave Alexei a worried glance.

“After our unsuccessful parley, I turned in for the evening. Malcolm woke me in the middle of the night, explaining that Black Iris was attacked. That Shadow Dealer bastard shoved us out the door!” Alexei said.

“Anything else you can remember?” Mr. Tage said.

“No . . . wait. Jony came to my room. We had a brief conversation about Hunter’s bad behavior at the talks. I thought he was just venting.”

“Interesting! Now, Melissa, my dear, if you can give us your recollection of the events of that evening, it may help to shed some light on things,” Mr. Tage said.

Melissa said nothing. She seemed to be in deep thought. She took a sip of water then started.

Why is she so nervous? Alexei thought.

“I remember that evening well. Hunter and Alexei were involved in a heated exchange. There was a lot of yelling going on. Malcolm concluded the talks for the evening,” Melissa said.

“What did you do after the meeting ended?”

“I locked up my notes, then retired. But . . . now that I think about it, I heard voices as I returned to my quarters. It sounded like Malcolm was speaking to someone, but I couldn’t make out any of it.”

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“The Shadow Dealers are famous for not allowing technology of any kind to interfere with negotiations. Didn’t you find this side conversation unusual on Christmas?”

Melissa thought for a long time before answering. “I agree that the timing was irregular, but Malcolm is the leader of the Shadow Dealers, and he was probably setting up some other negotiation.”

“Anything else you wish to add, dear?” Mr. Tage asked.

Melissa shook her head.

“I will share my side of the story,” Jony said.

Alexei noticed Melissa staring at Jony. Do they have a history? he wondered. More than our confrontation at the Shadow Dealers?

Alexei had to lean forward to hear the soft-spoken man.

“Tried talking to Hunter, but he blew me off. So I walked around the complex a bit to clear my head. I found myself near Alexei’s quarters and wanted to apologize for Hunter’s actions. I returned to my room. Sometime later, I slept—until Malcolm awakened me,” Jony said.

Mr. Tage raised an eyebrow. “What did he say?”

“That was when he said that he’d received word that Black Iris had been attacked and that Hunter and I should return. We didn’t get our phones until they put us on a ship. I called D as soon as we were in cell range—well after dawn the next day!”

“We didn’t get attacked until the evening of the twenty-sixth,” Dahlia said.

Everyone started talking at once.

How the hell did Black Iris miss this? Alexei thought. From the looks of it, Mr. Tage had come to the same conclusion.

“I’ve noticed a common theme, and that’s Malcolm,” Mr. Tage said.

Alexei looked at Dahlia. So far, she hadn’t reacted to what they’d said, but Alexei noticed a tightening of her jaw. Dahlia slapped her hand on the table hard enough to silence the room.

“I haven’t gotten to tell my side of the story yet!” Dahlia said.

All eyes were on Dahlia. Alexei could feel the tension in the room. It felt more intense than the negotiation at the Shadow Dealers.

“Christmas came and went with no trouble. I was working in the design center until well after midnight. No attacks, no unusual Black Iris alerts. Nothing until the evening of the twenty-sixth!”

Mr. Tage raised a hand. “Jony, help me here. Something else doesn’t add up. Did you leave a voicemail for Dahlia? The morning of the twenty-sixth, I mean.”

Jony looked rattled. “I did, I swear!”

“I can confirm that he did. He was more annoying than usual,” Hunter said.

“Thinking back on the day . . . we had some trouble with some building facilities. The phones didn’t ring all day,” Dahlia said.

“It sounds to me like all the evidence points to a third-party hack. Alexei couldn’t have given the word to attack while on Phantom Island. Hacking building control systems requires a bit of planning,” Mr. Tage said.

“Are you suggesting that Malcolm was conspiring with the attackers?” Alexei asked.

“I am,” Mr. Tage said.

Melissa looked like she wanted to leave. She started rubbing her shoulder. She got up to leave, but was intercepted by one of Mr. Tage’s men.

“Calm down everyone! No one leaves until we sort this out,” Mr. Tage said.

Melissa returned to her seat.

“D-do you still believe that my team or I had anything to do with any attack?” Alexei asked.

Dahlia gave Alexei a look. He couldn’t tell what emotion she was experiencing.

“Can everyone in this room agree that the Collective had nothing to do with the Black Iris attack?” Alexei said.

“It doesn’t add up. Whoever planned this had an intimate knowledge of both Black Iris and the Collective. It all points to the Shadow Dealers!” Dahlia said.

Mr. Tage let that realization sink in.

“Now, the larger question is, what are Black Iris and the Collective going to do about it?” Mr. Tage said.

Alexei stood and held his hand out across the table. “Truce? Until we catch the person responsible, anyway!” he said.

Dahlia gave Alexei a smile. It was barely noticeable. Her mask faltered for a moment.

She took his hand.

“Excellent!” Mr. Tage said.