A spotlight came on, aimed directly at them, and the speaker warbled a warning tone. The operator grinned, and shook his head in satisfaction. "Freeze, both of you!" His tone reeked of superiority.
Alphon stopped beside Ferd and examined the drone. "Damn," he whispered, "she was right. That's from Basel."
Ferd glanced at him. "Basel? Who's that?"
"Switzerland. The bankers' cartel."
The drone operator flashed the spotlight to get their attention, and then pointed it down at the jetraft. "This box is contraband. Where's the woman who ordered it?"
Ferd shrugged. "Woman? What woman? I think you've got the wrong address."
The spot swiveled back and brightened considerably. "I can blind you in an instant," the operator said tightly, "even if your eyes are closed. Now answer the question."
"I don't see why I should. If you blind me, I won't be able to help you, will I? Who are you, anyway?"
"Who I am's not important."
"Sure it is," Ferd countered. "You've claimed that there's contraband here. If that's what you sent the drone for, why are you asking about some woman? Don't you have sensors in that thing to detect drugs, if that's what you're after?"
The drone operator looked off-frame for a moment before responding. "It's not drugs we're after. Now where's the woman?"
"Good, good," Ferd said, finding an angle to play, "now we're getting somewhere. Look, if we're going to negotiate, and I assume that's why you sent a telepresence drone, then I'd like to know who I'm dealing with. What's your name?"
The operator's eyes narrowed. "I told you, that's not important."
"It is if you expect to negotiate with me. What's your name?"
"Call me Joe, then. Where's the woman?"
"Yeah. About that. Don't you even know her name? I thought you guys were all about surveillance."
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