“At the NYPL?” Naomi asked, incredulous. “What were the burglars after?”
“We’re still waiting for the police report,” William replied. “But in the meantime, we’re going to secure everything, as quickly as possible. Scan and back up every specimen in every department, and tag all physical maps, books, computers, and art with micro RFID. We’re installing tracking devices in every room, so the instant anything is moved, we’ll be able to follow it right on our own Haberson Map. Something like this will never happen again.”
“That’s great,” Felix said, comforted. He knew it would be a rocky start, but once the NYPL’s scholars saw how much care Haberson put into its work, they’d come to appreciate the company.
“I’m glad we’re able to help,” Naomi agreed. “Their Map Division must have thousands of maps in its archives.”
William was grinning now—a jolt of excitement rushed through Felix as he realized why. “And after we finish, so will your algorithm,” he said.
They were going to have so much more data. It would add an entirely new historical dimension to the Haberson Map. And the tracking tags on the physical copies would provide yet another type of map—a real-time, constantly updating view of how everything moved in the library, and when, and by whom. Soon, Haberson would know the NYPL better than it did itself.
“How many do you think they have? A hundred thousand?” Naomi asked.
“Half a million,” Felix clarified.
“That’s right, I forgot you worked there,” she replied.
“A lifetime ago,” he said. “I actually heard about the breakin last night. I would have said something earlier if I’d known we were taking over security.”
“How? It’s not even on the news yet,” William asked.
“Long story,” he said. “An old ex stopped by to tell me. She used to work there, too.”
“Reigniting an old office romance, are we?” Priya winked.
“She got me fired,” he said.
“Oh.” Priya winced. “Sorry.”
“Water under the bridge now.” Felix shrugged. “The visit was just unexpected.”
It had been unexpected. When he’d grabbed his phone yesterday to see who had texted him, the last person he ever would have imagined it to be was Nell.
“I’m much happier here,” he finished. But it irritated him that even now, as he recalled the moment he first saw her name on the screen, he felt a thrill of nervous excitement all over again.
“Well, I’m glad,” William said. “Plus, having someone familiar with the NYPL’s archives should make getting us up to speed go even faster. And I want this to move fast. We’re announcing in half an hour in the main auditorium.”
A faint ding echoed through the office then—their calendars all chimed with the meeting alert at once.
William nodded to the big screen, where their team calendar had appeared, the event highlighted. A live video of the rapidly filling auditorium was streaming in the corner, Ainsley Simmons already at the podium, going through her notes. “The two of you can head over as soon as you’re ready,” he said to Naomi and Priya. “Felix, before you do, I want you to set the Haberson Map to search for the NYPL burglars.”
“Now?” Felix asked. “But we hardly have any data.”
“It’ll start coming in soon enough,” William said. “I don’t want us to waste any time. Mark it as top priority.” He turned to make for the elevators, and Naomi and Priya set off after him. They would go down to the auditorium, but William would go up, back to his private office, where he would watch Ainsley make the public announcement through his tablet screen, like always.