Somewhere rather nicer, in 2006
Some weeks after this.
A passageway backstage in between acts was no place for a telephone conversation, but when dress rehearsal is in full swing, there are seldom other choices. Quinn didn't have to be anywhere near the stage for a good ten minutes yet, and so was taking advantage of the situation, if being told "Quinn, you're mad," counted as an advantage.
"Come on, Ajay-" He shifted the phone between his ear and his shoulder. "There's got to be some way of flushing her out."
"No," said his friend's voice firmly. "I'm not that sort of hacker."
"Please."
"Quinn-" There was an exasperated sigh. "You've got what to go on? A first name, a prospective university major, and a time zone. Have you got any sort of clue whatsoever just how many girls named Veronica live in the state of California?"
Quinn had to flatten himself against the wall to let Barney the stagehand through. "Yeah, but if you checked the universities for me-"
"They keep that sort of information a bit more private than that," Ajay informed him crisply. "And don't offer me the date and time of the incoming call, either. I'm not about to go up against BT security just so you can track down a girl."
He sighed, head thumping back against the cinderblock wall. In his gut he knew Ajay was right, but he still wanted to argue. "So there's nothing at all you could do, then."
"I'm sorry, Quinn. Unless she calls back and gets a bit more specific, no."
"All right," he said. "Thanks anyway."
When the 'Call ended' message appeared on the screen he tucked the silenced phone away and headed down the passageway. Might as well get ready for his next cue after all.
A passageway backstage in between acts was no place for a telephone conversation, but when dress rehearsal is in full swing, there are seldom other choices. Quinn didn't have to be anywhere near the stage for a good ten minutes yet, and so was taking advantage of the situation, if being told "Quinn, you're mad," counted as an advantage.
"Come on, Ajay-" He shifted the phone between his ear and his shoulder. "There's got to be some way of flushing her out."
"No," said his friend's voice firmly. "I'm not that sort of hacker."
"Please."
"Quinn-" There was an exasperated sigh. "You've got what to go on? A first name, a prospective university major, and a time zone. Have you got any sort of clue whatsoever just how many girls named Veronica live in the state of California?"
Quinn had to flatten himself against the wall to let Barney the stagehand through. "Yeah, but if you checked the universities for me-"
"They keep that sort of information a bit more private than that," Ajay informed him crisply. "And don't offer me the date and time of the incoming call, either. I'm not about to go up against BT security just so you can track down a girl."
He sighed, head thumping back against the cinderblock wall. In his gut he knew Ajay was right, but he still wanted to argue. "So there's nothing at all you could do, then."
"I'm sorry, Quinn. Unless she calls back and gets a bit more specific, no."
"All right," he said. "Thanks anyway."
When the 'Call ended' message appeared on the screen he tucked the silenced phone away and headed down the passageway. Might as well get ready for his next cue after all.