Jules smiled thinly, “You know as well as I that Diane won’t need any help from the outside, Bette. She’ll be able to take care of things in the duplex.  So don’t use that line of reasoning with me…”

Before Bette could respond, her mobile rang, and so did the disposable cell that Brom was now holding. He was about to it hand over to the tech guy that Brom had asked to monitor Bette’s conversation with Spencer earlier, so that he could disassemble the disposable cell and trash it.

In both cases, “Private number” was displayed.

Bette and Brom looked quickly at each other, as the phones rang again. They all turned to Spencer, who was shaking his head, ashen-faced.

Brom mouthed instructions to the tech guy, who manipulated a few buttons in the machine he had been using earlier, and then handed Brom some earphones that were plugged into the machine.

Brom told Bette to answer the call, and motioned that he’d be able to listen in on the conversation.

With a deep breath, Bette swiped her thumb across the glass screen and tapped on the green button to take the call.

“Bette?,” a metallic voice asked. As soon as Bette had taken the call, the tech guy began disassembling the disposable mobile, dropping different parts of it into separate paper bags, while crushing the SIM card with his heel. He’d also began to try to trace the call.

“I’m assuming that Spencer has made contact with you, and has explained our mutual interest in you … or rather, in certain items you have in your possession,” the voice asked, in tones that sounded to Bette like an opening gambit in a negotiation.   How did he or she guess? Spencer had sounded convincing from what they’d heard. Did he slip up?

Very well, she thought, her mind working rapidly through several scenarios, including hanging up. But that wouldn’t get them anywhere. She sighed. It seemed like she had little choice but talk to whomever was calling.

She blew a breath out and told herself, “If this is a negotiation, then that’ll suit me just fine.”

“Whomever I’m speaking to, I would assume you’ll understand when I say the best negotiations can only happen if there is some trust between both parties. But I think I can’t continue talking to a metallic voice.  How can I negotiate with a machine?,” she asked in a challenging tone. She really didn’t care about the voice; she just was gathering information about her opponent. More than anything, she wanted to know how the person behind the voice reacted to someone perceived to be weaker deigning to challenge him or her, as well as to convey distance and confidence with her own opening gambit.