The coffee in Jayden's mug had gone cold. He pushed it aside, his mind working through everything Fred had just told him.
"No, I don't," he replied finally. "But why should I trust you? Why should I trust any word you just said? You say you knew Aunt Kate. You say you've been protecting me. But words are cheap. How do I know this isn't some elaborate setup? How do I know you're not recording this conversation right now, building a case against me?"
Fred reached into his jacket.
Jayden's hand moved instinctively, ready to defend himself—
Fred pulled out his holo-tab and set it on the table between them. The screen was active, showing his EVA credentials. With deliberate slowness, Fred swiped through several menus until he reached a settings page.
"All recording functions: disabled," Fred said, turning the device so Jayden could see. "No audio. No video. No data transmission. This conversation stays between us."
He set the holo-tab down and looked Jayden directly in the eyes.
