Let's Talk Plans

With your desserts almost finished, you use the brief pause in conversation to clear your throat and smile, saying, “We should still talk about TAM I suppose. Even though Karissa has given us a lot to think about, I did want to make sure we all agreed about our next steps.”

With a cheeky grin, Karissa says, “I did rather monopolize things didn’t I? But it doesn’t all have to be about me. Sometimes.” You chuckle, and you’re pleased to see her more like her usual cheerful self.

“You are part of our little group no matter what Karissa. The three of us know about TAM and I’m starting to think that is a very important responsibility.”

Jayne is nodding and holding her chin in the cutest thoughtful pose while she muses, “I hadn’t really thought of it that way but when you do - this is a computer program that can change how people think without anyone knowing! - the more concerned I get. How is this here? Do other people know about it? Is there some huge problem with how it works that will come up later? I’m afraid by including you Karissa we may have exposed you, maybe to something dangerous. Zach is right, just the fact you know means you’re part of it now.”

“Yes, and I’m still glad you both decided to tell me no matter what.”

“We need to keep investigating it,” you say, “and while we aren’t exactly brilliant detectives we have found out some things and we have some leads.” You quickly catch Karissa up on the details she didn’t know, primarily the documents you found in the basement and the strong suspicion that Karen Harding, your IT predecessor, knew about TAM.

“Huh. So you don’t know where Karen is now?” Karissa asks Jayne, "I only met her like once, she left just after I started at Bathurst Health."

“No, I looked her up but it’s a pretty common name. If she had social media it wasn’t clearly her, I couldn’t find a Karen Harding in Toronto that seemed to be her anyway.”

Karissa smiles broadly, “I’ll look tonight when I get home! I hate to brag, but I’m very good at online creeping total strangers like a big stalker.”

Fighting the urge to bring up Karissa’s less than cool creeping on your medical records, you say, “And I’ll search for the Ogilvie and Panopticon angle. I wasn’t lucky enough to find an Panopticon Software in a town called Ogilvie unfortunately, but it might be an old company that’s been gone for decades.”

“You guys took the easy jobs of just typing things into Google,” Jayne grumbles with an arched eyebrow, “but I’ll go through the tutorial screenshots Zach took to see if it hints at anything else, maybe related to the ‘traits’ it mentions or the unlock passcode we found. And I have a way to maybe track down Karen’s home address at least, if not a phone number, in case we can’t get a hold of her another way.”

With another frown, you say, “We haven’t really discussed it but I think you both agree with me that this has to be a secret, right?”

Karissa is nodding rapidly, her eyes wide, “Oh for sure! This is the sort of thing that would make people think you were crazy if you talked about it. And even if they believed you they’d tell the police or media right?”

“I haven’t told anyone, of course, and for the same reasons,” Jayne agrees.

The conversation dying down, Karissa looks around the Poop Cafe. “Well, I should be going home. I got to see this place finally but I doubt I’ll come back. It’s a bit too kitschy for me really, but I’ll always remember it for the time that Zach and Jayne let me ask them out and didn’t judge me or get freaked out.”

“We’ll talk about it Karissa, I promise you. And no matter what I’m very happy you felt confident and safe enough to tell us how you feel,” you say.

“Zach is right, Karissa. You can always talk to us, and hey with the TAM thing we’re all going to be a little team regardless right?” Jayne adds.

The young clerk pauses then smiles broadly, “Yep! You guys are my friends and I’ll always be there for you, even if you don’t feel the same sort of affection for me back. But I gotta say, I’m an awesome girlfriend! Super fun to date!”

You all start to laugh as you stand and get ready to leave, and Karissa shrugs unapologetically, “Hey, had to put in a last good word right?”