canon!OOM: Getting the black box

[dontlooklisten]

There's a van crammed with equipment parked outside the buildings of the Coolidge Institute. Inside, the following conversation is going on

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[sime_channel]

Suzi has herself stuffed into a corner out of everyone's way, knitting quietly and listening to the banter back and forth.

[dontlooklisten]

There's a delivery driver arguing with the guy at the front desk of the Institute. Those who pay close enough attention will notice that the driver appears to be more interested in keeping the security person's attention on him than actually getting an agreement out of him.

Bishop would call it lucky if he hadn't arranged for this specific form of luck to begin with. Thank God for Carl. He clears his throat and asks, over the argument, "Hey. Did my wife drop the cake off for me?"

"Uh, what cake? There's no cake back here," says the harried clerk.

"Surprise party for Marsha on the second floor. She was supposed to have dropped a cake off-"

Outside, a horn honks.

"Oh, there she is. Late as usual."

Whistler's busily tying the last knot around one of the bundle of colorful balloons that takes up half the back of the van when Bishop sticks his head in next. "Here you go, boss."

[sime_channel]

"What comes after Bishop gets in?" Suzi asks Crease frowning a little bit, "Won't the balloons get noticed?"

[dontlooklisten]

"That's the point," says Crease. "They're going to notice the balloons, not him."