Chapter Four: Read, No Reply

Zhou Ye knocked on Lin Mo’s door at 2:17 in the morning. He wore a mask and kept his cap low. In his hands was a small whiteboard: MY VOICE IS STILL HERE. IT JUST ISN’T IN ME. On the back, he had taped a printed voiceprint. In the four hours since the city’s sound returned, his streaming account had automatically uploaded a blank audio clip every seventeen minutes. Human ears heard silence. Software could isolate Zhou Ye’s voiceprint—and another man repeating three words. “Don’t come here.” The voice belonged to Lu Chen. Qiao Qi circled the address on the invitation. The west-side data center had closed seven years ago and changed owners five times. It was currently registered to a shell company.