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10f10 0a 22 49 66 20 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 6d 69 73 69 ."If I have misi
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10f90 74 68 61 74 20 77 6f 72 6b 73 20 66 6f 72 20 6d that works for m
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11470 6d 65 65 74 69 6e 67 20 70 6c 61 63 65 20 69 6e meeting place in
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114a0 53 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 She stared at th
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11560 20 20 49 74 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 It seemed like
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12820 6b 69 6e 67 20 63 61 70 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 20 king cap down a
12830 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 6c 6f 77 65 72 20 6f 6e 20 little lower on
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12850 75 72 65 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 73 65 ure in the passe
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12870 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 66 6f 6f 74 20 6f 75 74 20 6f d one foot out o
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12890 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 74 68 65 20 74 69 6e 74 through the tint
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128d0 6d 6f 76 65 6d 65 6e 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 6e movement from an
128e0 6f 74 68 65 72 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 61 63 72 other person acr
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12900 72 2c 20 64 69 6d 6c 79 20 69 6c 6c 75 6d 69 6e r, dimly illumin
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12920 63 6c 65 73 20 69 6e 74 65 72 69 6f 72 20 6c 69 cles interior li
12930 67 68 74 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 73 65 63 6f 6e ght. That secon
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12950 74 68 65 20 66 72 6f 6e 74 20 70 61 73 73 65 6e the front passen
12960 67 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 ger seat. Alley
12970 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 71 75 69 65 74 20 76 6f 69 heard quiet voi
12980 63 65 73 2c 20 6e 65 69 67 68 74 65 72 20 6f 66 ces, neighter of
12990 20 74 68 65 6d 20 76 65 72 79 20 64 65 65 70 2e them very deep.
129a0 20 20 22 54 68 65 20 64 72 69 76 65 72 27 73 20 "The driver's
129b0 6e 6f 74 20 61 6c 6f 6e 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 not alone," she
129c0 6d 75 72 6d 75 72 65 64 20 75 6e 64 65 72 20 68 murmured under h
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129e0 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 prioritizer said
129f0 20 6e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 20 69 6e 20 72 65 73 70 nothing in resp
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12a10 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 67 2c 20 61 6e d at the leg, an
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12a30 72 69 76 65 72 20 73 65 65 6d 65 64 20 74 6f 20 river seemed to
12a40 62 65 20 63 6c 61 64 20 69 6e 20 62 6c 61 63 6b be clad in black
12a50 20 73 6c 61 63 6b 73 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 72 65 slacks and wore
12a60 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 64 61 some kind of da
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12a80 68 6f 65 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 66 65 hoe. After a fe
12a90 77 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 w more moments,
12aa0 74 68 65 20 64 72 69 76 65 72 20 73 6c 69 64 20 the driver slid
12ab0 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 61 74 20 out of the seat
12ac0 61 6e 64 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 and stood...Alle
12ad0 79 20 73 61 77 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 2d 66 72 61 6d y saw black-fram
12ae0 65 64 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 ed glasses with
12af0 63 6c 65 61 72 20 6c 65 6e 73 65 73 20 62 65 6c clear lenses bel
12b00 6f 77 20 74 6f 75 73 6c 65 64 2c 20 67 6c 6f 73 ow tousled, glos
12b10 73 79 2c 20 77 61 76 79 20 62 72 6f 77 6e 20 68 sy, wavy brown h
12b20 61 69 72 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 70 61 6c 65 2c air, and a pale,
12b30 20 73 6d 6f 6f 74 68 20 66 61 63 65 20 77 69 74 smooth face wit
12b40 68 20 61 6e 67 6c 65 64 20 63 68 65 65 6b 62 6f h angled cheekbo
12b50 6e 65 73 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 73 68 61 72 70 20 nes and a sharp
12b60 63 68 69 6e 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 66 65 6d 69 chin, for a femi
12b70 6e 69 6e 65 20 69 6d 70 72 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 2e nine impression.
12b80 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 67 72 61 62 62 65 64 20 Alley grabbed
12b90 68 65 72 20 62 61 67 20 6f 66 20 63 61 73 68 20 her bag of cash
12ba0 61 6e 64 20 6d 6f 76 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 and moved it to
12bb0 74 68 65 20 64 72 69 76 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 2c the driver seat,
12bc0 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 74 6f 20 66 then stood to f
12bd0 61 63 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 2c 20 ace the person,
12be0 77 68 6f 20 77 61 73 20 73 68 6f 72 74 65 72 20 who was shorter
12bf0 74 68 61 6e 20 68 65 72 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 73 than her. The s
12c00 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 66 75 6c 6c 2c 20 73 6f ight of full, so
12c10 66 74 20 6c 69 70 73 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 6e 61 ft lips and a na
12c20 72 72 6f 77 2c 20 73 74 72 61 69 67 68 74 20 6e rrow, straight n
12c30 6f 73 65 20 67 61 76 65 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 ose gave Alley a
12c40 6e 20 69 6d 6d 65 64 69 61 74 65 20 69 6d 70 72 n immediate impr
12c50 65 73 73 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 69 73 20 70 65 72 73 ession this pers
12c60 6f 6e 20 77 61 73 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 on was probably
12c70 70 72 65 74 74 69 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20 68 65 prettier than he
12c80 72 2e 20 20 49 74 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 74 6f 6f 6b r. It only took
12c90 20 61 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 6f 72 20 74 77 6f a second or two
12ca0 20 66 6f 72 20 68 65 72 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 6c for her to real
12cb0 69 7a 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 ize what she saw
12cc0 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 66 65 did not look fe
12cd0 6d 61 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6c male...He just l
12ce0 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 76 65 72 79 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 ooked very young
12cf0 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 64 72 69 76 65 72 20 67 61 ...The driver ga
12d00 76 65 20 68 65 72 20 61 6e 20 61 70 70 72 61 69 ve her an apprai
12d10 73 69 6e 67 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 2c 20 74 68 65 20 69 sing look, the i
12d20 6d 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 61 6c 6c 79 20 69 6e 74 65 mpersonally inte
12d30 72 65 73 74 65 64 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6c rested kind of l
12d40 6f 6f 6b 20 74 68 61 74 20 6c 69 6e 67 65 72 65 ook that lingere
12d50 64 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 68 65 72 d on the way her
12d60 20 63 61 72 67 6f 20 70 61 6e 74 73 20 61 6e 64 cargo pants and
12d70 20 74 2d 73 68 69 72 74 20 66 69 74 20 68 65 72 t-shirt fit her
12d80 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 20 6e 6f 72 6d 61 and would norma
12d90 6c 6c 79 20 73 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 74 65 65 74 lly set her teet
12da0 68 20 6f 6e 20 65 64 67 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 73 h on edge, but s
12db0 68 65 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 he just stared a
12dc0 74 20 68 69 6d 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 t him for a mome
12dd0 6e 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 69 73 20 66 61 73 68 nt with his fash
12de0 69 6f 6e 61 62 6c 79 20 73 70 61 72 74 61 6e 2c ionably spartan,
12df0 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 66 6f 72 6d 61 6c 2d 63 almost formal-c
12e00 75 74 2c 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 72 ut, black collar
12e10 6c 65 73 73 20 73 68 69 72 74 2e 0a 0a 22 41 72 less shirt..."Ar
12e20 65 6e 27 74 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 en't you kind of
12e30 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 young for this
12e40 73 6f 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 6e 67 3f 22 20 sort of thing?"
12e50 73 68 65 20 62 6c 75 72 74 65 64 20 6f 75 74 2e she blurted out.
12e60 0a 0a 48 65 20 6a 65 72 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 ..He jerked the
12e70 66 6f 63 75 73 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 61 71 75 focus of his aqu
12e80 61 20 65 79 65 73 2c 20 72 65 66 6c 65 63 74 69 a eyes, reflecti
12e90 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 6c 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 ng the light of
12ea0 74 68 65 20 6d 6f 6f 6e 2c 20 61 77 61 79 20 66 the moon, away f
12eb0 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 76 69 63 69 6e 69 74 79 rom the vicinity
12ec0 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 6d 69 64 73 65 63 74 69 of her midsecti
12ed0 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 65 74 20 68 65 72 20 65 on and met her e
12ee0 79 65 73 2e 20 20 22 48 65 79 2c 20 6c 61 64 79 yes. "Hey, lady
12ef0 2c 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 27 , don't think I'
12f00 6d 20 6e 65 77 20 74 6f 20 74 68 69 73 2e 20 20 m new to this.
12f10 49 27 6d 20 61 72 6d 65 64 2c 20 73 6f 20 64 6f I'm armed, so do
12f20 6e 27 74 20 6a 65 72 6b 20 6d 65 20 61 72 6f 75 n't jerk me arou
12f30 6e 64 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 nd."..She hesita
12f40 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 ted, then said "
12f50 4e 6f 2c 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 20 70 72 6f 62 6c 65 No, not a proble
12f60 6d 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6a 75 73 74 2c 20 75 68 m. You just, uh
12f70 68 2c 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 64 20 6d 65 2e h, surprised me.
12f80 20 20 53 6f 72 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 Sorry.".."What
12f90 65 76 65 72 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 ever," he said,
12fa0 69 6e 20 61 20 73 6f 66 74 2c 20 63 6c 65 61 72 in a soft, clear
12fb0 20 76 6f 69 63 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 61 6c 6d 6f voice that almo
12fc0 73 74 20 6d 61 64 65 20 69 74 20 64 69 66 66 69 st made it diffi
12fd0 63 75 6c 74 20 74 6f 20 72 65 63 6f 67 6e 69 7a cult to recogniz
12fe0 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 6f 75 72 20 6e 6f 74 65 20 e the sour note
12ff0 69 6e 20 69 74 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 65 2c 20 6c in it. "Here, l
13000 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 74 68 69 73 2c 22 20 68 65 ook at this," he
13010 20 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 6c 64 20 said, and held
13020 75 70 20 61 20 64 65 76 69 63 65 20 74 68 65 20 up a device the
13030 73 69 7a 65 20 6f 66 20 68 69 73 20 70 61 6c 6d size of his palm
13040 2e 20 20 41 20 67 6c 6f 77 69 6e 67 20 64 69 73 . A glowing dis
13050 70 6c 61 79 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 2c 20 61 62 6f 75 play on it, abou
13060 74 20 74 68 65 20 6c 65 6e 67 74 68 20 6f 66 20 t the length of
13070 68 65 72 20 6f 77 6e 20 74 68 75 6d 62 20 61 6e her own thumb an
13080 64 20 74 68 72 65 65 20 74 69 6d 65 73 20 74 68 d three times th
13090 65 20 74 68 69 63 6b 6e 65 73 73 2c 20 73 68 6f e thickness, sho
130a0 77 65 64 20 61 6e 20 65 69 67 68 74 79 2d 73 65 wed an eighty-se
130b0 76 65 6e 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 74 72 61 6e 73 ven Stater trans
130c0 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 72 65 61 64 79 20 66 6f 72 action ready for
130d0 20 68 69 6d 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 2e him to confirm.
130e0 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 61 6e ..She nodded, an
130f0 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 47 6f 20 61 68 65 61 64 d said "Go ahead
13100 20 61 6e 64 20 73 65 6e 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 and send it to
13110 74 68 69 73 20 65 73 63 72 6f 77 2e 22 20 20 53 this escrow." S
13120 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 he pulled out th
13130 65 20 64 6f 67 2d 65 61 72 65 64 20 70 61 67 65 e dog-eared page
13140 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 6e 6f 74 65 62 6f 6f 6b of her notebook
13150 20 77 69 74 68 6f 75 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 without looking
13160 20 61 74 20 69 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 68 61 6e 64 at it, and hand
13170 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 79 ed it to the boy
13180 2e 20 20 48 65 20 65 6e 74 65 72 65 64 20 74 68 . He entered th
13190 65 20 65 73 63 72 6f 77 20 6e 75 6d 62 65 72 20 e escrow number
131a0 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 69 73 20 64 65 76 69 63 65 20 into his device
131b0 61 6e 64 20 74 68 75 6d 62 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 and thumbed the
131c0 63 6f 6e 66 69 72 6d 61 74 69 6f 6e 2e 20 20 41 confirmation. A
131d0 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 20 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 73 moment later, s
131e0 68 65 20 68 65 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 65 73 63 he heard the esc
131f0 72 6f 77 20 61 6c 65 72 74 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 row alert throug
13200 68 20 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 27 73 20 65 61 h her phone's ea
13210 72 70 69 65 63 65 2e 0a 0a 22 44 6f 6e 65 22 2c rpiece..."Done",
13220 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 48 65 72 65 he said..."Here
13230 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 73 68 2e 22 20 20 53 's the cash." S
13240 68 65 20 68 75 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 72 69 67 68 he hung her righ
13250 74 20 74 68 75 6d 62 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 20 66 t thumb on her f
13260 72 6f 6e 74 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2c 20 74 68 65 ront pocket, the
13270 6e 20 72 65 61 63 68 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 n reached into t
13280 68 65 20 63 61 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 he car with her
13290 6c 65 66 74 20 68 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 70 75 6c left hand to pul
132a0 6c 20 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 67 2e 20 20 l out the bag.
132b0 53 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f She handed it to
132c0 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 79 2e 0a 0a 48 65 20 74 6f the boy...He to
132d0 6f 6b 20 69 74 2c 20 6b 65 65 70 69 6e 67 20 68 ok it, keeping h
132e0 69 73 20 65 79 65 73 20 6f 6e 20 68 65 72 2c 20 is eyes on her,
132f0 61 6e 64 20 73 74 65 70 70 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b and stepped back
13300 2e 20 20 48 65 20 74 6f 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 . He tossed the
13310 20 62 61 67 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 bag into the ca
13320 72 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 r, then Alley he
13330 61 72 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 72 75 73 74 6c 69 6e ard some rustlin
13340 67 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 73 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 g sounds from th
13350 65 20 62 61 67 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 e bag. After a
13360 66 65 77 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 73 2c 20 73 68 65 few moments, she
13370 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 77 68 6f 65 76 65 realized whoeve
13380 72 20 77 61 73 20 73 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 69 6e r was sitting in
13390 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 73 65 6e 67 65 72 20 73 the passenger s
133a0 65 61 74 20 68 61 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 eat had started
133b0 63 6f 75 6e 74 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 counting. Alley
133c0 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 62 6f 79 20 73 74 6f and the boy sto
133d0 6f 64 20 74 68 65 72 65 2c 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e od there, lookin
133e0 67 20 61 74 20 65 61 63 68 20 6f 74 68 65 72 2c g at each other,
133f0 20 61 73 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 2e as they waited.
13400 20 20 41 20 67 69 72 6c 27 73 20 76 6f 69 63 65 A girl's voice
13410 20 2d 2d 20 75 6e 6c 65 73 73 20 69 74 20 77 61 -- unless it wa
13420 73 20 61 6e 20 65 76 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 65 s an even younge
13430 72 20 62 6f 79 20 2d 2d 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49 r boy -- said "I
13440 74 27 73 20 61 6c 6c 20 68 65 72 65 2e 22 0a 0a t's all here."..
13450 54 68 65 20 62 6f 79 20 74 61 70 70 65 64 20 68 The boy tapped h
13460 69 73 20 64 65 76 69 63 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 68 is device with h
13470 69 73 20 74 68 75 6d 62 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f is thumb once mo
13480 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 41 72 re, and said "Ar
13490 65 20 77 65 20 64 6f 6e 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f e we done?".."No
134a0 74 20 79 65 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 t yet," she said
134b0 2e 20 20 22 4a 75 73 74 20 77 61 69 74 2e 20 20 . "Just wait.
134c0 45 76 65 72 79 6f 6e 65 20 77 61 69 74 65 64 2e Everyone waited.
134d0 20 20 41 20 66 65 77 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 73 20 A few seconds
134e0 6c 61 74 65 72 2c 20 61 6e 6f 74 68 65 72 20 61 later, another a
134f0 6c 65 72 74 20 63 68 69 6d 65 64 20 69 6e 20 41 lert chimed in A
13500 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 65 61 72 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b lley's ear. "Ok
13510 61 79 2c 20 77 65 27 72 65 20 64 6f 6e 65 2e 22 ay, we're done."
13520 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 2c 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 .."Good," he sai
13530 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 61 74 20 62 61 63 6b 20 d, and sat back
13540 69 6e 20 68 69 73 20 63 61 72 20 77 69 74 68 20 in his car with
13550 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 69 6e 67 20 71 75 69 63 6b surprising quick
13560 6e 65 73 73 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 74 ness...Alley sat
13570 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 68 75 72 72 69 65 down and hurrie
13580 64 6c 79 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 64 dly pulled her d
13590 6f 6f 72 20 73 68 75 74 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 63 oor shut. The c
135a0 72 6f 73 73 6f 76 65 72 20 62 61 63 6b 65 64 20 rossover backed
135b0 6f 75 74 20 61 6e 64 20 71 75 69 63 6b 6c 79 20 out and quickly
135c0 64 72 6f 76 65 20 61 77 61 79 2c 20 77 68 69 6c drove away, whil
135d0 65 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 73 74 69 6c 6c 20 e she was still
135e0 62 75 63 6b 6c 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 73 65 61 buckling her sea
135f0 74 62 65 6c 74 2e 20 20 53 6f 6f 6e 20 73 68 65 tbelt. Soon she
13600 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 77 61 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 , too, was on th
13610 65 20 72 6f 61 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 20 69 73 20 e road..."It is
13620 74 6f 6f 20 65 61 72 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 too early to be
13630 73 75 72 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 65 6e 74 20 77 sure that went w
13640 65 6c 6c 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 ell," the priori
13650 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 tizer said..."Ye
13660 61 68 2e 20 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 63 68 ah. I should ch
13670 65 63 6b 20 6d 79 20 53 74 61 74 65 72 20 62 61 eck my Stater ba
13680 6c 61 6e 63 65 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c lance." She pul
13690 6c 65 64 20 6f 76 65 72 2c 20 73 65 74 20 61 73 led over, set as
136a0 69 64 65 20 68 65 72 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 ide her glasses
136b0 73 6f 20 74 68 65 79 20 77 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 so they wouldn't
136c0 20 72 65 63 6f 72 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 73 68 65 record what she
136d0 20 73 61 77 2c 20 70 69 63 6b 65 64 20 75 70 20 saw, picked up
136e0 68 65 72 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6c her phone, and l
136f0 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 6f 70 65 ooked at the ope
13700 6e 20 6c 65 64 67 65 72 20 76 69 65 77 2e 20 20 n ledger view.
13710 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 77 20 68 61 64 20 61 20 53 74 She now had a St
13720 61 74 65 72 20 62 61 6c 61 6e 63 65 2e 20 20 53 ater balance. S
13730 68 65 20 73 74 61 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 69 74 20 he stared at it
13740 66 6f 72 20 61 20 77 68 69 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 22 49 for a while..."I
13750 73 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 63 6f 72 s everything cor
13760 72 65 63 74 3f 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 rect?" the prior
13770 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 53 itizer asked...S
13780 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 he nodded, then
13790 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 69 74 20 70 72 6f 62 realized it prob
137a0 61 62 6c 79 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 74 65 ably couldn't te
137b0 6c 6c 20 73 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 20 77 68 ll she nodded wh
137c0 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 77 65 en she wasn't we
137d0 61 72 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 aring the glasse
137e0 73 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 69 74 27 73 20 s. "Yeah, it's
137f0 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 72 65 2e 20 20 49 73 20 74 all there. Is t
13800 68 65 72 65 20 61 6e 79 20 77 61 79 20 74 68 69 here any way thi
13810 73 20 63 61 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 68 6f 77 20 67 65 s can somehow ge
13820 74 20 72 65 76 65 72 73 65 64 20 6e 6f 77 3f 22 t reversed now?"
13830 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f .."No," the prio
13840 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 ritizer said. "
13850 49 66 20 69 74 20 73 68 6f 77 73 20 69 6e 20 79 If it shows in y
13860 6f 75 72 20 62 61 6c 61 6e 63 65 2c 20 74 68 61 our balance, tha
13870 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 74 68 t should mean th
13880 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 63 72 e transaction cr
13890 6f 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 ossed the point
138a0 6f 66 20 6e 6f 20 72 65 74 75 72 6e 2c 20 61 63 of no return, ac
138b0 63 6f 72 64 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 53 cording to the S
138c0 74 61 74 65 72 20 64 6f 63 75 6d 65 6e 74 73 20 tater documents
138d0 79 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 you showed to me
138e0 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20 79 6f 75 72 20 67 6c through your gl
138f0 61 73 73 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6b 61 79 2e 22 asses.".."Okay."
13900 20 20 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 63 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 She locked her
13910 20 70 68 6f 6e 65 2c 20 74 6f 73 73 65 64 20 69 phone, tossed i
13920 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 73 65 6e 67 t on the passeng
13930 65 72 20 73 65 61 74 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 er seat, and sta
13940 72 74 65 64 20 64 72 69 76 69 6e 67 20 61 67 61 rted driving aga
13950 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 79 6f in..."Perhaps yo
13960 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 77 65 61 72 20 74 68 u should wear th
13970 65 20 67 6c 61 73 73 65 73 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e e glasses again.
13980 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 72 69 67 68 74 2c 22 20 ".."Oh, right,"
13990 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 she said. She p
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13b20 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 6f 70 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 . "I hope this
13b30 61 6c 6c 20 77 6f 72 6b 73 20 6f 75 74 2e 22 0a all works out.".
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13b50 68 65 20 64 72 6f 76 65 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 69 6e he drove home in
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14570 20 74 68 69 6e 67 20 66 65 6c 74 20 61 20 6c 69 thing felt a li
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14c10 61 74 65 20 70 61 72 65 6e 74 73 27 20 68 6f 6d ate parents' hom
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14c70 2e 0a 0a 54 68 61 74 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 ...That was not
14c80 74 68 65 20 68 61 70 70 79 20 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 the happy ending
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14ca0 53 68 65 20 68 65 61 64 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 She headed out t
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14d40 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 61 64 20 74 6f 20 63 68 .Alley had to ch
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14e40 20 20 54 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 77 61 73 20 The other was
14e50 61 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 6c 61 74 65 20 6d 6f 64 a black late mod
14e60 65 6c 20 41 75 64 69 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 70 el Audi with a p
14e70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 6f erson in the fro
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14e90 6e 64 6f 77 73 20 77 65 72 65 20 73 6f 20 64 61 ndows were so da
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14ef0 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 69 76 65 72 27 73 20 in the driver's
14f00 73 65 61 74 2e 0a 0a 41 73 20 73 68 65 20 61 70 seat...As she ap
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14f20 63 68 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 77 20 74 68 61 74 ch, she saw that
14f30 20 61 20 70 61 6c 65 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 20 72 65 a pale young re
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14f90 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 67 6c 6f s, and black glo
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14fc0 69 63 20 64 72 61 77 73 74 72 69 6e 67 20 62 61 ic drawstring ba
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14ff0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 68 65 20 68 61 64 20 73 6f , and she had so
15000 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 74 mething like a t
15010 61 63 74 69 63 61 6c 20 70 75 72 73 65 20 6f 6e actical purse on
15020 20 68 65 72 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 73 69 64 65 2e her other side.
15030 20 20 53 68 65 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 77 68 61 She wasn't wha
15040 74 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 64 t Alley expected
15050 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 61 6e 20 61 6e 6f 6e 79 6d 6f from an anonymo
15060 75 73 20 67 75 6e 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 74 72 61 us gun parts tra
15070 64 65 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 72 65 64 68 65 61 64 de...The redhead
15080 20 77 61 74 63 68 65 64 20 73 74 65 61 64 69 6c watched steadil
15090 79 20 61 73 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 70 70 72 6f y as Alley appro
150a0 61 63 68 65 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 77 68 61 74 ached, with what
150b0 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 62 turned out to b
150c0 65 20 76 69 76 69 64 20 67 72 65 65 6e 20 65 79 e vivid green ey
150d0 65 73 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 6c 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 es. The lack of
150e0 20 66 72 65 63 6b 6c 65 73 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 freckles might
150f0 6d 65 61 6e 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 mean she was not
15100 20 61 20 6e 61 74 75 72 61 6c 20 72 65 64 68 65 a natural redhe
15110 61 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 ad, but it also
15120 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 might just mean
15130 73 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 72 65 6d she got them rem
15140 6f 76 65 64 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e oved...The woman
15150 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 asked "Are you
15160 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 looking for some
15170 6f 6e 65 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 6f one?"..Alley sto
15180 70 70 65 64 2c 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6d pped, a couple m
15190 65 74 65 72 73 20 61 77 61 79 2e 20 20 22 59 65 eters away. "Ye
151a0 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 73 6f 2e 20 ah, I guess so.
151b0 20 49 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 2c 20 75 68 Is that the, uh
151c0 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 22 20 73 68 65 20 74 72 61 69 . . ." she trai
151d0 6c 65 64 20 6f 66 66 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 67 65 73 led off, and ges
151e0 74 75 72 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 61 tured at the dra
151f0 77 73 74 72 69 6e 67 20 62 61 67 2e 0a 0a 22 50 wstring bag..."P
15200 72 69 6e 74 65 64 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 3f 22 20 rinted frames?"
15210 74 68 65 20 72 65 64 68 65 61 64 20 61 73 6b 65 the redhead aske
15220 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 d...Alley nodded
15230 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 72 65 64 68 65 61 64 20 65 ...The redhead e
15240 78 70 6f 73 65 64 20 62 72 69 6c 6c 69 61 6e 74 xposed brilliant
15250 20 77 68 69 74 65 20 74 65 65 74 68 20 77 69 74 white teeth wit
15260 68 20 61 20 62 72 6f 61 64 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e h a broad smile.
15270 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 66 6f 75 "Yeah, you fou
15280 6e 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 nd what you want
15290 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 2e 22 20 . I'm Carmen."
152a0 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 61 6e 64 20 6f She stood and o
152b0 66 66 65 72 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 ffered one glove
152c0 64 20 68 61 6e 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 d hand...Alley a
152d0 63 63 65 70 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 71 75 69 63 ccepted the quic
152e0 6b 20 68 61 6e 64 73 68 61 6b 65 2e 20 20 22 4d k handshake. "M
152f0 61 6c 6c 6f 72 79 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 6f 66 66 allory," she off
15300 66 65 72 65 64 2c 20 6f 6e 20 69 6d 70 75 6c 73 fered, on impuls
15310 65 2e 0a 0a 22 4c 65 74 20 6d 65 20 67 75 65 73 e..."Let me gues
15320 73 3a 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 s: I'm not what
15330 79 6f 75 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 64 2e 22 0a 0a you expected."..
15340 22 49 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 73 75 72 65 20 77 "I wasn't sure w
15350 68 61 74 20 74 6f 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 2c 22 20 hat to expect,"
15360 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 64 6d 69 74 74 65 64 2c 20 Alley admitted,
15370 22 62 75 74 20 79 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 "but yeah, I gue
15380 73 20 79 6f 75 20 73 75 72 70 72 69 73 65 64 20 s you surprised
15390 6d 65 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 43 61 72 me anyway."..Car
153a0 6d 65 6e 20 2d 2d 20 70 6f 73 73 69 62 6c 79 20 men -- possibly
153b0 61 20 70 73 65 75 64 6f 6e 79 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 a pseudony, Alle
153c0 79 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 2d 2d 20 73 6d y realized -- sm
153d0 69 6c 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 22 54 68 iled again. "Th
153e0 61 74 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20 74 68 69 73 20 at part of this
153f0 6a 6f 62 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 67 65 74 73 20 6f job never gets o
15400 6c 64 2e 20 20 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 49 20 77 ld. Anyway, I w
15410 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 75 70 73 65 6c 6c 20 79 6f ant to upsell yo
15420 75 2e 20 20 48 6f 77 27 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 73 u. How's that s
15430 6f 75 6e 64 3f 22 0a 0a 22 55 70 73 65 6c 6c 3f ound?".."Upsell?
15440 22 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 " Alley hesitat
15450 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e ed, then nodded.
15460 20 20 22 53 75 72 65 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 "Sure, I guess
15470 2e 22 0a 0a 22 43 6f 6f 6c 2e 20 20 53 6f 2c 20 .".."Cool. So,
15480 77 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 70 72 69 6e 74 65 64 20 we have printed
15490 63 6f 6e 63 65 61 6c 6d 65 6e 74 20 68 6f 6c 73 concealment hols
154a0 74 65 72 73 2c 20 73 6e 61 70 20 6f 6e 20 61 63 ters, snap on ac
154b0 63 65 73 73 6f 72 79 20 72 61 69 6c 73 2c 20 61 cessory rails, a
154c0 6e 64 20 62 72 61 73 73 20 63 61 74 63 68 65 72 nd brass catcher
154d0 73 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 6f 64 65 6c 73 20 63 6f 6d s for models com
154e0 70 61 74 69 62 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 patible with the
154f0 73 65 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 2e 20 20 57 65 20 68 se frames. We h
15500 61 76 65 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 66 6f 72 20 6f 74 ave stuff for ot
15510 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 64 65 6c 73 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c her models, too,
15520 20 73 6f 20 6c 65 74 20 6d 65 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 so let me know
15530 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 what you'd like
15540 74 6f 20 73 65 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 6f 77 2e 20 to see.".."Wow.
15550 20 46 75 6c 6c 2d 73 65 72 76 69 63 65 2c 20 49 Full-service, I
15560 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 6f 74 61 6c guess.".."Total
15570 6c 79 21 22 20 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 74 75 67 ly!" Carmen tug
15580 67 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 69 72 74 20 64 6f ged her shirt do
15590 77 6e 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 2c 20 6d 61 6b wn slightly, mak
155a0 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 ing it a little
155b0 6d 6f 72 65 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 20 73 68 65 more obvious she
155c0 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 wasn't wearing
155d0 61 20 62 72 61 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b a bra..."I think
155e0 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 74 69 63 6b I'll just stick
155f0 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 6f 72 64 65 72 20 with the order
15600 49 20 70 6c 61 63 65 64 2c 20 66 6f 72 20 6e 6f I placed, for no
15610 77 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 6b 65 65 70 20 79 6f w. I'll keep yo
15620 75 20 69 6e 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 69 66 20 49 20 6e u in mind if I n
15630 65 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 65 6c eed something el
15640 73 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 43 61 se, though."..Ca
15650 72 6d 65 6e 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2c 20 61 rmen shrugged, a
15660 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20 73 68 65 20 73 nd the way she s
15670 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 72 61 69 73 65 64 20 68 lightly raised h
15680 65 72 20 61 72 6d 73 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 64 er arms as she d
15690 69 64 20 69 74 20 6d 61 64 65 20 74 68 65 20 73 id it made the s
156a0 68 69 72 74 20 74 69 67 68 74 65 6e 20 61 63 72 hirt tighten acr
156b0 6f 73 73 20 68 65 72 20 70 65 72 6b 79 20 62 72 oss her perky br
156c0 65 61 73 74 73 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b 61 79 21 22 0a easts. "Okay!".
156d0 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 6f 6f 6b 20 69 6e 20 74 .Alley took in t
156e0 68 65 20 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 20 61 6e 64 20 73 he display and s
156f0 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 lightly over the
15700 20 74 6f 70 20 63 68 65 65 72 69 6e 65 73 73 2e top cheeriness.
15710 20 20 22 44 6f 65 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 2e 20 2e "Does that . .
15720 20 2e 20 6f 68 2c 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 6d 69 6e . oh, never min
15730 64 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 49 20 73 68 d. I guess I sh
15740 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 65 65 20 74 68 ould just see th
15750 65 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 2c 20 6e 6f 77 2e 22 0a e frames, now.".
15760 0a 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 6e 61 72 72 6f 77 65 64 .Carmen narrowed
15770 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 2c 20 61 6c 6d 6f 73 her eyes, almos
15780 74 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 71 75 69 74 65 20 t but not quite
15790 73 75 73 70 69 63 69 6f 75 73 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e suspiciously, an
157a0 64 20 74 69 6c 74 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 d tilted her hea
157b0 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 77 61 69 74 2e 20 20 d. "No, wait.
157c0 57 68 61 74 20 77 65 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 67 6f What were you go
157d0 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e ing to ask?".."N
157e0 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 othing," Alley s
157f0 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 61 76 65 6e 27 74 aid. "I haven't
15800 20 62 65 65 6e 20 76 65 72 79 20 73 6f 63 69 61 been very socia
15810 62 6c 65 20 6c 61 74 65 6c 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 ble lately, and
15820 66 6f 72 67 65 74 20 6d 79 20 6d 61 6e 6e 65 72 forget my manner
15830 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 s sometimes.".."
15840 4f 6f 68 2c 20 69 6e 61 70 70 72 6f 70 72 69 61 Ooh, inappropria
15850 74 65 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e 73 2e 20 20 54 te questions. T
15860 68 6f 73 65 20 61 72 65 20 6d 79 20 66 61 76 6f hose are my favo
15870 72 69 74 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 rite kind. You
15880 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 6f 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 61 should totally a
15890 73 6b 21 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 69 67 6e sk!"..Alley sign
158a0 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 77 61 73 20 6a 75 73 74 ed. "I was just
158b0 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 69 6e 67 20 69 66 20 79 6f wondering if yo
158c0 75 27 72 65 20 6e 61 74 75 72 61 6c 6c 79 20 74 u're naturally t
158d0 68 69 73 2c 20 75 68 2c 20 66 72 69 65 6e 64 6c his, uh, friendl
158e0 79 2c 20 6f 72 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 y, or if you're
158f0 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 62 65 63 61 75 73 like this becaus
15900 65 20 69 74 20 67 65 74 73 20 79 6f 75 20 61 20 e it gets you a
15910 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 75 70 73 65 6c 6c 73 2e 22 lot of upsells."
15920 20 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 6c 61 75 67 68 65 64 Carmen laughed
15930 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 6f 75 6e , and Alley foun
15940 64 20 69 74 20 69 6e 66 65 63 74 69 6f 75 73 2e d it infectious.
15950 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 68 65 72 She caught her
15960 73 65 6c 66 20 73 6e 69 63 6b 65 72 69 6e 67 2c self snickering,
15970 20 74 6f 6f 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 64 6f 20 49 too..."Why do I
15980 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 65 61 6e 74 think you meant
15990 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 27 66 6c 69 72 74 79 27 to say 'flirty'
159a0 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66 20 27 66 72 69 instead of 'fri
159b0 65 6e 64 6c 79 27 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 endly'?"..Alley
159c0 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 74 shrugged. She t
159d0 72 69 65 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 ried, with only
159e0 6d 6f 64 65 72 61 74 65 20 73 75 63 63 65 73 73 moderate success
159f0 2c 20 74 6f 20 73 75 70 70 72 65 73 73 20 68 65 , to suppress he
15a00 72 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 22 57 61 73 20 69 r smile..."Was i
15a10 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75 73 3f 22 t that obvious?"
15a20 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59 65 ..Alley said "Ye
15a30 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 73 6f 2e 20 ah, I guess so.
15a40 20 53 6f 72 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 67 75 65 Sorry.".."I gue
15a50 73 73 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 62 69 74 20 6f 66 ss it's a bit of
15a60 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 49 27 everything. I'
15a70 6d 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 m usually pretty
15a80 20 63 68 65 65 72 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 43 6c 69 cheery, but Cli
15a90 66 66 20 2d 2d 20 68 65 27 73 20 74 68 65 20 67 ff -- he's the g
15aa0 75 79 20 49 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 77 69 74 68 20 2d uy I work with -
15ab0 2d 20 43 6c 69 66 66 20 61 6e 64 20 49 64 65 63 - Cliff and Idec
15ac0 69 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 72 79 20 74 68 69 73 ided to try this
15ad0 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 57 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 out. With the
15ae0 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 6d 62 69 74 69 6f 75 kind of ambitiou
15af0 73 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 20 63 72 79 70 74 6f 74 72 s young cryptotr
15b00 61 64 65 72 20 67 75 79 73 20 77 65 20 75 73 75 ader guys we usu
15b10 61 6c 6c 79 20 67 65 74 2c 20 74 68 65 20 75 70 ally get, the up
15b20 73 65 6c 6c 73 20 61 6e 64 20 72 65 70 65 61 74 sells and repeat
15b30 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 77 65 20 67 65 74 business we get
15b40 20 67 6f 65 73 20 77 61 79 20 75 70 20 77 68 65 goes way up whe
15b50 6e 20 49 27 6d 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 n I'm doing the
15b60 74 72 61 64 65 73 2e 20 20 49 6e 20 74 77 6f 20 trades. In two
15b70 79 65 61 72 73 2c 20 77 65 20 6f 6e 6c 79 20 68 years, we only h
15b80 61 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 67 75 79 20 77 68 6f 20 64 ad one guy who d
15b90 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 6d 65 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 ecided me being
15ba0 61 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 67 69 72 6c 20 6d 61 a pretty girl ma
15bb0 64 65 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 20 65 61 73 79 20 74 61 de me an easy ta
15bc0 72 67 65 74 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 73 6f 20 69 74 rget, too, so it
15bd0 27 73 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 73 61 66 65 2e 22 's pretty safe."
15be0 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 72 6f 77 6e 65 64 2e ..Alley frowned.
15bf0 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 "Yeah," she sa
15c00 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 id. "I guess th
15c10 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 64 61 6e 67 65 72 2e 20 20 at's a danger.
15c20 57 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e 65 64 3f 22 0a What happened?".
15c30 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 73 68 69 74 2c 22 20 43 61 72 ."Oh, shit," Car
15c40 6d 65 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75 20 men said. "You
15c50 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 6e 65 77 20 61 74 20 74 must be new at t
15c60 68 69 73 2e 20 20 57 65 6c 6c 2c 20 49 20 70 75 his. Well, I pu
15c70 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6d 79 20 62 61 74 6f lled out my bato
15c80 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 43 6c 69 66 66 20 70 75 74 20 n and Cliff put
15c90 61 20 72 65 64 20 64 6f 74 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 a red dot on the
15ca0 20 67 75 79 27 73 20 63 68 65 73 74 20 77 69 74 guy's chest wit
15cb0 68 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 65 72 20 73 69 67 68 h the laser sigh
15cc0 74 20 6f 6e 20 68 69 73 20 72 69 66 6c 65 2e 20 t on his rifle.
15cd0 20 54 68 65 20 67 75 79 20 62 61 63 6b 65 64 20 The guy backed
15ce0 64 6f 77 6e 20 69 6e 20 61 20 68 75 72 72 79 2e down in a hurry.
15cf0 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 72 72 79 69 Are you carryi
15d00 6e 67 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 69 6f 6e 3f 22 0a ng protection?".
15d10 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 6f .Alley started o
15d20 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 75 74 68 pening her mouth
15d30 20 74 6f 20 72 65 70 6c 79 2c 20 62 75 74 20 43 to reply, but C
15d40 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 63 75 74 20 69 6e 20 61 67 61 armen cut in aga
15d50 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 in..."No, don't
15d60 74 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 tell me what you
15d70 27 72 65 20 63 61 72 72 79 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 59 're carrying. Y
15d80 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27 74 20 67 65 74 ou shouldn't get
15d90 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 62 69 74 20 6f 66 in the habit of
15da0 20 74 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 70 65 6f 70 6c 65 20 telling people
15db0 73 74 75 66 66 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 61 74 2e stuff like that.
15dc0 20 20 47 65 74 20 79 6f 75 72 73 65 6c 66 20 74 Get yourself t
15dd0 68 72 65 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 2c 20 69 66 20 hree things, if
15de0 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 you don't alread
15df0 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 27 65 6d 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 y have 'em. You
15e00 20 6e 65 65 64 20 70 65 70 70 65 72 20 73 70 72 need pepper spr
15e10 61 79 20 6f 72 20 61 20 73 6f 6e 69 63 20 72 65 ay or a sonic re
15e20 70 65 6c 6c 61 6e 74 2c 20 61 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 pellant, a colla
15e30 70 73 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 psing baton, and
15e40 20 62 61 63 6b 75 70 20 77 68 6f 20 6b 6e 6f 77 backup who know
15e50 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 68 65 27 73 20 64 6f 69 6e s what he's doin
15e60 67 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 43 6c 69 66 66 2e 22 0a g, like Cliff.".
15e70 0a 22 55 68 2c 20 74 68 61 6e 6b 73 2c 22 20 41 ."Uh, thanks," A
15e80 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 lley said. "Are
15e90 6e 27 74 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 70 n't those collap
15ea0 73 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 73 20 69 6c 6c 65 sing batons ille
15eb0 67 61 6c 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 43 61 gal?".."Yeah, Ca
15ec0 6c 69 66 6f 72 6e 69 61 20 73 75 63 6b 73 20 74 lifornia sucks t
15ed0 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 47 69 72 6c 73 20 hat way. Girls
15ee0 61 72 65 6e 27 74 20 61 6c 6c 6f 77 65 64 20 74 aren't allowed t
15ef0 6f 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 20 74 68 65 6d 73 65 o protect themse
15f00 6c 76 65 73 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2e 22 lves, you know."
15f10 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 73 6f 6d She pulled som
15f20 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65 ething about the
15f30 20 73 69 7a 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20 77 68 69 74 65 size of a white
15f40 62 6f 61 72 64 20 6d 61 72 6b 65 72 20 6f 75 74 board marker out
15f50 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 63 6b 20 70 6f 63 of her back poc
15f60 6b 65 74 2e 20 20 22 53 65 65 20 74 68 69 73 3f ket. "See this?
15f70 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 This is a good
15f80 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 baton."..Alley
15f90 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 62 6c looked at the bl
15fa0 61 63 6b 20 61 6e 6f 64 69 7a 65 64 20 61 6c 75 ack anodized alu
15fb0 6d 69 6e 75 6d 20 63 79 6c 69 6e 64 65 72 20 77 minum cylinder w
15fc0 68 65 6e 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 68 65 6c 64 20 hen Carmen held
15fd0 69 74 20 75 70 2e 20 20 49 74 20 68 61 64 20 73 it up. It had s
15fe0 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 6c 6f 67 6f ome kind of logo
15ff0 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 63 6f 75 on it and a cou
16000 70 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 64 65 70 72 65 73 73 65 64 ple of depressed
16010 20 6f 76 61 6c 73 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 ovals on the si
16020 64 65 2e 0a 0a 22 50 75 73 68 20 74 68 65 73 65 de..."Push these
16030 20 74 77 6f 20 73 70 6f 74 73 20 74 6f 20 70 6f two spots to po
16040 70 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 4a 75 73 74 20 p it out. Just
16050 70 75 73 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 65 63 6f 6e 64 20 push the second
16060 6f 6e 65 2c 20 68 65 72 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 70 one, here, and p
16070 75 73 68 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 ush the business
16080 20 65 6e 64 20 61 67 61 69 73 6e 74 20 73 6f 6d end agaisnt som
16090 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 61 72 64 20 74 6f 20 63 ething hard to c
160a0 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 65 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 74 6f ollapse the bato
160b0 6e 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 n back into the
160c0 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 2e 20 20 59 65 61 68 3f 22 0a handle. Yeah?".
160d0 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 .Alley nodded.
160e0 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 "I guess that's
160f0 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 64 65 73 69 67 6e 2c 20 74 a good design, t
16100 68 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 6f 74 61 6c 6c 79 2e hen.".."Totally.
16110 20 20 57 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 74 77 6f 20 72 With the two r
16120 65 6c 65 61 73 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 73 2c 20 79 elease points, y
16130 6f 75 27 72 65 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 ou're not likely
16140 20 74 6f 20 61 63 63 69 64 65 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 to accidentally
16150 20 70 6f 70 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 20 77 68 65 6e pop it out when
16160 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 you don't want
16170 74 6f 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 79 70 to, and this typ
16180 65 20 69 73 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 73 6f 6c 69 64 20 e is more solid
16190 61 6e 64 20 65 61 73 69 65 72 20 74 6f 20 72 65 and easier to re
161a0 74 72 61 63 74 20 74 68 61 6e 20 74 68 65 20 74 tract than the t
161b0 68 69 6e 67 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 hings where you
161c0 6a 75 73 74 20 73 6e 61 70 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 just snap your h
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161e0 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 41 6e 79 77 61 79 2c 20 79 them. Anyway, y
161f0 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 ou need one of t
16200 68 65 73 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 27 73 20 65 hese, and it's e
16210 61 73 79 20 74 6f 20 74 6f 73 73 20 69 74 20 73 asy to toss it s
16220 6f 6d 65 77 68 65 72 65 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 omewhere before
16230 63 6f 70 73 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 cops get to you
16240 69 66 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 66 72 61 69 64 if you're afraid
16250 20 6f 66 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 63 61 75 67 of getting caug
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16280 66 20 79 6f 75 20 63 75 74 20 61 20 6c 69 74 74 f you cut a litt
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162a0 6e 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 6f nside of your po
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162c0 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 70 61 6e 74 73 20 79 wearing pants y
162d0 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 64 72 6f 70 20 69 74 20 64 ou can drop it d
162e0 6f 77 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 61 6e 74 20 6c 65 own your pant le
162f0 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 79 62 65 20 73 74 65 g, and maybe ste
16300 70 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 68 69 64 65 20 p on it to hide
16310 69 74 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 it while getting
16320 20 70 61 74 74 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 2c 20 6f 72 patted down, or
16330 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2e 20 20 54 68 65 something. The
16340 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 61 20 62 75 6e 63 68 20 6f re are a bunch o
16350 66 20 77 61 79 73 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 77 f ways to get aw
16360 61 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 74 2e 0a 0a 22 48 65 ay with it..."He
16370 72 65 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 65 6c 64 20 69 re." She held i
16380 74 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 2c 20 t out to Alley,
16390 77 68 6f 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 74 6f 20 72 who started to r
163a0 65 61 63 68 20 66 6f 72 20 69 74 2e 20 20 22 44 each for it. "D
163b0 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 72 79 20 6f 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 on't try opening
163c0 20 69 74 20 68 65 72 65 2c 20 62 75 74 20 70 72 it here, but pr
163d0 61 63 74 69 63 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 74 20 61 actice with it a
163e0 74 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 20 77 61 t home. That wa
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16400 20 74 6f 20 77 6f 72 72 79 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 to worry about
16410 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 62 getting caught b
16420 75 79 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 65 2e 20 20 55 6e 6c 69 uying one. Unli
16430 6b 65 20 6f 75 72 20 70 69 73 74 6f 6c 20 66 72 ke our pistol fr
16440 61 6d 65 73 2c 20 77 61 6c 6b 69 6e 67 20 68 6f ames, walking ho
16450 6d 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 me with one of t
16460 68 65 73 65 20 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 6f 63 hese in your poc
16470 6b 65 74 20 69 73 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 2c 20 ket is illegal,
16480 61 6e 64 20 61 20 63 6f 70 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 and a cop might
16490 6a 75 73 74 20 74 72 79 20 73 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 just try selling
164a0 20 6f 6e 65 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 20 74 6f 20 67 one to you to g
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164c0 68 61 72 61 73 73 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c harass you."..Al
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164e0 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 68 61 6c 66 77 61 79 20 er hand halfway
164f0 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 68 61 6e to the baton han
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16510 69 76 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 73 20 74 6f 20 6d 65 iving this to me
16520 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 ?" she asked..."
16530 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 55 68 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 Yeah. Uh, just
16540 61 20 73 65 63 27 2c 22 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 a sec'," Carmen
16550 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 6c 6f 77 65 72 65 64 20 68 said. lowered h
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16570 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 baton in it and
16580 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 looked toward t
16590 68 65 20 41 75 64 69 2e 20 20 22 59 65 73 2c 20 he Audi. "Yes,
165a0 43 6c 69 66 66 2c 20 49 27 6d 20 67 69 76 69 6e Cliff, I'm givin
165b0 67 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 63 6b 69 6e g her the fuckin
165c0 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 6a g baton. I'll j
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165e0 6f 6e 65 21 20 20 43 68 69 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 20 one! Chill the
165f0 66 75 63 6b 20 6f 75 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 fuck out."..Alle
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16620 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 74 6f 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 r head to look a
16630 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 72 6b 65 64 20 73 65 64 t the parked sed
16640 61 6e 2e 0a 0a 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 67 72 61 62 an...Carmen grab
16650 62 65 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 77 72 69 73 bed Alley's wris
16660 74 20 61 6e 64 20 70 72 65 73 73 65 64 20 74 68 t and pressed th
16670 65 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 e collapsing bat
16680 6f 6e 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 on into her hand
16690 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 61 . "Don't look a
166a0 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 4a 75 73 74 20 70 75 74 20 t it. Just put
166b0 69 74 20 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 it in your pocke
166c0 74 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 6d 61 6b 65 20 43 t. Don't make C
166d0 6c 69 66 66 20 6e 65 72 76 6f 75 73 20 62 79 20 liff nervous by
166e0 73 74 61 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 65 20 77 69 standing here wi
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16710 66 20 69 74 27 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 49 20 67 61 76 f it's one I gav
16720 65 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 55 68 2c 20 79 65 e you.".."Uh, ye
16730 61 68 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2c ah," Alley said,
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16760 6b 65 74 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 20 ket. "Thanks."
16770 20 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 She showed her
16780 65 6d 70 74 79 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 74 6f 20 43 empty hands to C
16790 61 72 6d 65 6e 2c 20 77 68 65 72 65 20 74 68 65 armen, where the
167a0 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 41 person in the A
167b0 75 64 69 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 65 65 20 74 68 udi could see th
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167d0 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 73 20 68 61 72 6d 6c 65 to be as harmle
167e0 73 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 73 20 73 68 ss looking as sh
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16800 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c 20 75 73 ."Yeah, well, us
16810 20 67 69 72 6c 73 20 67 6f 74 74 61 20 73 74 69 girls gotta sti
16820 63 6b 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 2e 20 20 52 69 ck together. Ri
16830 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 ght?"..Alley nod
16840 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 4c 65 ded..."Good. Le
16850 74 27 73 20 66 69 6e 69 73 68 20 74 68 65 20 64 t's finish the d
16860 65 61 6c 2e 20 20 54 68 65 6e 2c 20 67 65 74 20 eal. Then, get
16870 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 63 68 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 74 69 in touch some ti
16880 6d 65 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 me if you think
16890 79 6f 75 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 you might want t
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168b0 66 20 77 6f 72 6b 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 20 20 57 65 f work, too. We
168c0 27 72 65 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 61 20 6c 6f 're getting a lo
168d0 74 20 6f 66 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 2c 20 61 t of business, a
168e0 6e 64 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 75 73 65 20 74 68 65 nd could use the
168f0 20 68 65 6c 70 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 27 72 65 20 70 help. You're p
16900 72 65 74 74 79 20 65 6e 6f 75 67 68 20 74 6f 20 retty enough to
16910 67 65 74 20 74 68 65 20 75 70 73 65 6c 6c 73 2c get the upsells,
16920 20 65 61 73 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 6b easy.".."I'll k
16930 65 65 70 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 6e 20 6d 69 6e 64 eep that in mind
16940 2e 22 0a 0a 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 67 72 61 62 62 ."..Carmen grabb
16950 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 61 77 73 74 72 69 6e ed the drawstrin
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16970 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 62 75 79 69 what you're buyi
16980 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a 41 74 20 68 6f ng."..---..At ho
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169a0 61 20 62 6f 78 20 6f 66 20 64 69 73 70 6f 73 61 a box of disposa
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169c0 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 72 65 20 61 20 70 es, and wore a p
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16a00 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 73 68 65 20 62 6f 75 67 68 frames she bough
16a10 74 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 t. After going
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16a30 66 65 77 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 2c 20 73 68 65 few minutes, she
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16a50 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 61 77 73 74 72 69 6e 67 n the drawstring
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16a90 61 6e 64 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 and stood in the
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16b40 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 65 6e 64 20 77 61 73 20 77 which end was w
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16c30 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 6c 6f 6f toward the floo
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16c80 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 65 6e 64 20 70 6f the other end po
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16d40 20 49 74 20 68 61 64 20 64 65 66 69 6e 69 74 65 It had definite
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16dc0 61 20 6d 65 74 65 72 20 6c 6f 6e 67 2e 20 20 53 a meter long. S
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16e30 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 70 65 74 20 6a on the carpet j
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16e60 20 66 6c 6f 6f 72 2e 20 20 49 74 20 66 65 6c 74 floor. It felt
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16ea0 63 6f 6e 64 20 62 75 74 74 6f 6e 2c 20 61 6e 64 cond button, and
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