The rain fell in a steady rhythm against the windows of James's apartment as Maya arrived the following evening. She'd spent the morning adapting her equipment for portability, creating a system that could analyze sonic patterns in real-time without drawing attention. Now, soaked from the short walk from her car, she stood awkwardly in his doorway, her equipment bag slung over her shoulder.
James opened the door before she could knock. "I heard your footsteps on the stairs," he explained with a small smile. "Different from anyone else in the building. More deliberate."
Maya stamped her feet on the mat, appreciating that he couldn't see her bedraggled appearance. Echo padded over, nudging her hand in greeting.
"I brought dinner," she signed, then remembered he couldn't see her hands. "So
