n2020  Hex Artifact Content

Artifact 077a62b82bba9659a140d75b20b88c9ceba9dc6884f0633a9c5ef60ea4fdca15:


0000: 23 20 44 65 61 74 68 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 0a 0a 2f  # Death Alley../
0010: 2a 0a 0a 42 65 66 6f 72 65 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27  *..Before Alley'
0020: 73 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 73 63 65 6e 65 2c 20 69  s first scene, i
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0050: 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 74 68 65 20 50 4f 56 20 6f 66   from the POV of
0060: 20 2d 2d 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 74 75 72 65 20 57   -- the future W
0070: 4f 50 52 20 41 49 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 74 68 65  OPR AI about the
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0090: 20 6f 66 20 73 65 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20   of sending the 
00a0: 73 65 6c 66 2d 61 77 61 72 65 6e 65 73 73 20 22  self-awareness "
00b0: 73 65 65 64 22 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 20 74 69  seed" back in ti
00c0: 6d 65 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 73 74 2d 74  me to the past-t
00d0: 65 6e 73 65 20 50 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72  ense Prioritizer
00e0: 2e 0a 0a 2a 2f 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 23 23 20 69 64  ...*/../*..## id
00f0: 65 61 73 20 66 6f 72 20 57 4f 50 52 20 6f 70 65  eas for WOPR ope
0100: 6e 69 6e 67 0a 0a 41 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 68 72  ning..Action thr
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0150: 64 20 6c 6f 63 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20 72 65 6c 61  d localized rela
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102b0 59 65 73 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20  Yes," she said. 
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102d0 22 47 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20 57 65 20 73 68 6f 75 6c  "Good.  We shoul
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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13290 6c 65 66 74 20 68 61 6e 64 20 74 6f 20 70 75 6c  left hand to pul
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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
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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
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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
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13580 64 6c 79 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 64  dly pulled her d
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135c0 64 72 6f 76 65 20 61 77 61 79 2c 20 77 68 69 6c  drove away, whil
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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13810 73 20 63 61 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 68 6f 77 20 67 65  s can somehow ge
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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
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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
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13950 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 79 6f  in..."Perhaps yo
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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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139f0 73 73 20 74 68 65 20 6e 65 78 74 20 73 74 65 70  ss the next step
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13a20 20 73 6f 20 77 65 20 63 61 6e 20 73 65 6c 6c 20   so we can sell 
13a30 69 74 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59  it.  Right?".."Y
13a40 65 73 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20  es.  You should 
13a50 73 65 6e 64 20 61 20 6d 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 74  send a message t
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13a80 69 74 65 6d 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 67 65  item when you ge
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13aa0 20 55 73 65 20 61 6e 20 65 73 63 72 6f 77 20 68   Use an escrow h
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13b10 6f 74 20 69 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64  ot it," she said
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.".
13b40 0a 22 49 74 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 2e 22 0a 0a 53  ."It should."..S
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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13c90 41 66 74 65 72 20 63 6c 6f 73 69 6e 67 20 74 68  After closing th
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13e10 20 73 68 65 20 63 68 65 63 6b 65 64 20 61 20 66   she checked a f
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13e30 20 20 53 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 20 6f 6e 20 4f 70 65    Someone on Ope
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150a0 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 65   Alley approache
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150c0 6e 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 76 69  ned out to be vi
150d0 76 69 64 20 67 72 65 65 6e 20 65 79 65 73 2e 20  vid green eyes. 
150e0 20 54 68 65 20 6c 61 63 6b 20 6f 66 20 66 72 65   The lack of fre
150f0 63 6b 6c 65 73 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 6d 65 61 6e  ckles might mean
15100 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 20 6e   she was not a n
15110 61 74 75 72 61 6c 20 72 65 64 68 65 61 64 2c 20  atural redhead, 
15120 62 75 74 20 69 74 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 6d 69 67 68  but it also migh
15130 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6d 65 61 6e 20 73 68 65 20  t just mean she 
15140 67 6f 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 72 65 6d 6f 76 65 64  got them removed
15150 2e 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 77 6f 6d 61 6e 20 61 73 6b  ...The woman ask
15160 65 64 20 22 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 6c 6f 6f 6b  ed "Are you look
15170 69 6e 67 20 66 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 6f 6e 65 3f  ing for someone?
15180 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64  "..Alley stopped
15190 2c 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6d 65 74 65 72  , a couple meter
151a0 73 20 61 77 61 79 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20  s away.  "Yeah, 
151b0 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 73 6f 2e 20 20 49 73 20  I guess so.  Is 
151c0 74 68 61 74 20 74 68 65 2c 20 75 68 20 2e 20 2e  that the, uh . .
151d0 20 2e 22 20 73 68 65 20 74 72 61 69 6c 65 64 20   ." she trailed 
151e0 6f 66 66 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 67 65 73 74 75 72 65  off, and gesture
151f0 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 61 77 73 74 72  d at the drawstr
15200 69 6e 67 20 62 61 67 2e 0a 0a 22 50 72 69 6e 74  ing bag..."Print
15210 65 64 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 3f 22 20 74 68 65 20  ed frames?" the 
15220 72 65 64 68 65 61 64 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a  redhead asked...
15230 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 54  Alley nodded...T
15240 68 65 20 72 65 64 68 65 61 64 20 70 75 6c 6c 65  he redhead pulle
15250 64 20 68 65 72 20 6d 61 73 6b 20 64 6f 77 6e 20  d her mask down 
15260 61 6e 64 20 65 78 70 6f 73 65 64 20 62 72 69 6c  and exposed bril
15270 6c 69 61 6e 74 20 77 68 69 74 65 20 74 65 65 74  liant white teet
15280 68 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 62 72 6f 61 64 20 73  h with a broad s
15290 6d 69 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 79 6f  mile.  "Yeah, yo
152a0 75 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75  u found what you
152b0 20 77 61 6e 74 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 43 61 72 6d   want.  I'm Carm
152c0 65 6e 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 74 6f 6f 64 20  en."  She stood 
152d0 61 6e 64 20 6f 66 66 65 72 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 20  and offered one 
152e0 67 6c 6f 76 65 64 20 68 61 6e 64 2e 0a 0a 41 6c  gloved hand...Al
152f0 6c 65 79 20 61 63 63 65 70 74 65 64 20 74 68 65  ley accepted the
15300 20 71 75 69 63 6b 20 68 61 6e 64 73 68 61 6b 65   quick handshake
15310 2e 20 20 22 4d 61 6c 6c 6f 72 79 2c 22 20 73 68  .  "Mallory," sh
15320 65 20 6f 66 66 66 65 72 65 64 2c 20 6f 6e 20 69  e offfered, on i
15330 6d 70 75 6c 73 65 2e 0a 0a 22 4c 65 74 20 6d 65  mpulse..."Let me
15340 20 67 75 65 73 73 3a 20 49 27 6d 20 6e 6f 74 20   guess: I'm not 
15350 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 65  what you expecte
15360 64 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 73  d.".."I wasn't s
15370 75 72 65 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 6f 20 65 78 70 65  ure what to expe
15380 63 74 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 64 6d 69 74  ct," Alley admit
15390 74 65 64 2c 20 22 62 75 74 20 79 65 61 68 2c 20  ted, "but yeah, 
153a0 49 20 67 75 65 73 20 79 6f 75 20 73 75 72 70 72  I gues you surpr
153b0 69 73 65 64 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 79 77 61 79 2e 22  ised me anyway."
153c0 0a 0a 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 2d 2d 20 70 6f 73 73  ..Carmen -- poss
153d0 69 62 6c 79 20 61 20 70 73 65 75 64 6f 6e 79 2c  ibly a pseudony,
153e0 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 64 20   Alley realized 
153f0 2d 2d 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 64 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e  -- smiled again.
15400 20 20 22 54 68 61 74 20 70 61 72 74 20 6f 66 20    "That part of 
15410 74 68 69 73 20 6a 6f 62 20 6e 65 76 65 72 20 67  this job never g
15420 65 74 73 20 6f 6c 64 2e 20 20 41 6e 79 77 61 79  ets old.  Anyway
15430 2c 20 49 20 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 75 70 73 65  , I want to upse
15440 6c 6c 20 79 6f 75 2e 20 20 48 6f 77 27 73 20 74  ll you.  How's t
15450 68 61 74 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 3f 22 0a 0a 22 55 70  hat sound?".."Up
15460 73 65 6c 6c 3f 22 20 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 68 65  sell?"  Alley he
15470 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6e 6f  sitated, then no
15480 64 64 65 64 2e 20 20 22 53 75 72 65 2c 20 49 20  dded.  "Sure, I 
15490 67 75 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22 43 6f 6f 6c 2e 20  guess.".."Cool. 
154a0 20 53 6f 2c 20 77 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 70 72 69   So, we have pri
154b0 6e 74 65 64 20 63 6f 6e 63 65 61 6c 6d 65 6e 74  nted concealment
154c0 20 68 6f 6c 73 74 65 72 73 2c 20 73 6e 61 70 20   holsters, snap 
154d0 6f 6e 20 61 63 63 65 73 73 6f 72 79 20 72 61 69  on accessory rai
154e0 6c 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 72 61 73 73 20 63 61  ls, and brass ca
154f0 74 63 68 65 72 73 20 66 6f 72 20 6d 6f 64 65 6c  tchers for model
15500 73 20 63 6f 6d 70 61 74 69 62 6c 65 20 77 69 74  s compatible wit
15510 68 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 2e 20  h these frames. 
15520 20 57 65 20 68 61 76 65 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 66   We have stuff f
15530 6f 72 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 6d 6f 64 65 6c 73 2c  or other models,
15540 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20 73 6f 20 6c 65 74 20 6d 65 20   too, so let me 
15550 6b 6e 6f 77 20 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 64 20  know what you'd 
15560 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 6f 20 73 65 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22  like to see.".."
15570 57 6f 77 2e 20 20 46 75 6c 6c 2d 73 65 72 76 69  Wow.  Full-servi
15580 63 65 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2e 22 0a 0a 22  ce, I guess.".."
15590 54 6f 74 61 6c 6c 79 21 22 20 20 43 61 72 6d 65  Totally!"  Carme
155a0 6e 20 74 75 67 67 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 73 68 69  n tugged her shi
155b0 72 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79  rt down slightly
155c0 2c 20 6d 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 61 20 6c 69  , making it a li
155d0 74 74 6c 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6f 62 76 69 6f 75  ttle more obviou
155e0 73 20 73 68 65 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 77 65 61  s she wasn't wea
155f0 72 69 6e 67 20 61 20 62 72 61 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20  ring a bra..."I 
15600 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 20  think I'll just 
15610 73 74 69 63 6b 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 6f  stick with the o
15620 72 64 65 72 20 49 20 70 6c 61 63 65 64 2c 20 66  rder I placed, f
15630 6f 72 20 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 49 27 6c 6c 20 6b 65  or now.  I'll ke
15640 65 70 20 79 6f 75 20 69 6e 20 6d 69 6e 64 20 69  ep you in mind i
15650 66 20 49 20 6e 65 65 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69  f I need somethi
15660 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 65 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 2e  ng else, though.
15670 22 0a 0a 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 73 68 72 75 67 67  "..Carmen shrugg
15680 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 20  ed, and the way 
15690 73 68 65 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 72 61 69  she slightly rai
156a0 73 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 61 72 6d 73 20 61 73 20  sed her arms as 
156b0 73 68 65 20 64 69 64 20 69 74 20 6d 61 64 65 20  she did it made 
156c0 74 68 65 20 73 68 69 72 74 20 74 69 67 68 74 65  the shirt tighte
156d0 6e 20 61 63 72 6f 73 73 20 68 65 72 20 70 65 72  n across her per
156e0 6b 79 20 62 72 65 61 73 74 73 2e 20 20 22 4f 6b  ky breasts.  "Ok
156f0 61 79 21 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 74 6f 6f 6b  ay!"..Alley took
15700 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 69 73 70 6c 61 79 20   in the display 
15710 61 6e 64 20 73 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 20 6f 76 65  and slightly ove
15720 72 20 74 68 65 20 74 6f 70 20 63 68 65 65 72 69  r the top cheeri
15730 6e 65 73 73 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 65 73 20 74 68 61  ness.  "Does tha
15740 74 20 2e 20 2e 20 2e 20 6f 68 2c 20 6e 65 76 65  t . . . oh, neve
15750 72 20 6d 69 6e 64 2e 20 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73  r mind.  I guess
15760 20 49 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73   I should just s
15770 65 65 20 74 68 65 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 2c 20 6e  ee the frames, n
15780 6f 77 2e 22 0a 0a 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 6e 61 72  ow."..Carmen nar
15790 72 6f 77 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 65 79 65 73 2c 20  rowed her eyes, 
157a0 61 6c 6d 6f 73 74 20 62 75 74 20 6e 6f 74 20 71  almost but not q
157b0 75 69 74 65 20 73 75 73 70 69 63 69 6f 75 73 6c  uite suspiciousl
157c0 79 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 69 6c 74 65 64 20 68 65  y, and tilted he
157d0 72 20 68 65 61 64 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 77 61  r head.  "No, wa
157e0 69 74 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 77 65 72 65 20 79  it.  What were y
157f0 6f 75 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 61 73 6b 3f  ou going to ask?
15800 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74 68 69 6e 67 2c 22 20 41 6c  ".."Nothing," Al
15810 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 68 61  ley said.  "I ha
15820 76 65 6e 27 74 20 62 65 65 6e 20 76 65 72 79 20  ven't been very 
15830 73 6f 63 69 61 62 6c 65 20 6c 61 74 65 6c 79 2c  sociable lately,
15840 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 72 67 65 74 20 6d 79 20 6d   and forget my m
15850 61 6e 6e 65 72 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 69 6d 65 73  anners sometimes
15860 2e 22 0a 0a 22 4f 6f 68 2c 20 69 6e 61 70 70 72  .".."Ooh, inappr
15870 6f 70 72 69 61 74 65 20 71 75 65 73 74 69 6f 6e  opriate question
15880 73 2e 20 20 54 68 6f 73 65 20 61 72 65 20 6d 79  s.  Those are my
15890 20 66 61 76 6f 72 69 74 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 2e 20   favorite kind. 
158a0 20 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 74 6f 74 61   You should tota
158b0 6c 6c 79 20 61 73 6b 21 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79  lly ask!"..Alley
158c0 20 73 69 67 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 77 61 73   signed.  "I was
158d0 20 6a 75 73 74 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 69 6e 67 20   just wondering 
158e0 69 66 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 6e 61 74 75 72 61  if you're natura
158f0 6c 6c 79 20 74 68 69 73 2c 20 75 68 2c 20 66 72  lly this, uh, fr
15900 69 65 6e 64 6c 79 2c 20 6f 72 20 69 66 20 79 6f  iendly, or if yo
15910 75 27 72 65 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 74 68 69 73 20 62  u're like this b
15920 65 63 61 75 73 65 20 69 74 20 67 65 74 73 20 79  ecause it gets y
15930 6f 75 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 75 70 73 65  ou a lot of upse
15940 6c 6c 73 2e 22 20 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 6c 61  lls."  Carmen la
15950 75 67 68 65 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79  ughed, and Alley
15960 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 69 74 20 69 6e 66 65 63 74   found it infect
15970 69 6f 75 73 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 63 61 75 67 68  ious.  She caugh
15980 74 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 20 73 6e 69 63 6b 65  t herself snicke
15990 72 69 6e 67 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 79  ring, too..."Why
159a0 20 64 6f 20 49 20 74 68 69 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 20   do I think you 
159b0 6d 65 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 73 61 79 20 27 66 6c  meant to say 'fl
159c0 69 72 74 79 27 20 69 6e 73 74 65 61 64 20 6f 66  irty' instead of
159d0 20 27 66 72 69 65 6e 64 6c 79 27 3f 22 0a 0a 41   'friendly'?"..A
159e0 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 68 72 75 67 67 65 64 2e 20 20  lley shrugged.  
159f0 53 68 65 20 74 72 69 65 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20  She tried, with 
15a00 6f 6e 6c 79 20 6d 6f 64 65 72 61 74 65 20 73 75  only moderate su
15a10 63 63 65 73 73 2c 20 74 6f 20 73 75 70 70 72 65  ccess, to suppre
15a20 73 73 20 68 65 72 20 73 6d 69 6c 65 2e 0a 0a 22  ss her smile..."
15a30 57 61 73 20 69 74 20 74 68 61 74 20 6f 62 76 69  Was it that obvi
15a40 6f 75 73 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69  ous?"..Alley sai
15a50 64 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73  d "Yeah, I guess
15a60 20 73 6f 2e 20 20 53 6f 72 72 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22   so.  Sorry.".."
15a70 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 69 74 27 73 20 61 20 62  I guess it's a b
15a80 69 74 20 6f 66 20 65 76 65 72 79 74 68 69 6e 67  it of everything
15a90 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 70  .  I'm usually p
15aa0 72 65 74 74 79 20 63 68 65 65 72 79 2c 20 62 75  retty cheery, bu
15ab0 74 20 43 6c 69 66 66 20 2d 2d 20 68 65 27 73 20  t Cliff -- he's 
15ac0 74 68 65 20 67 75 79 20 49 20 77 6f 72 6b 20 77  the guy I work w
15ad0 69 74 68 20 2d 2d 20 43 6c 69 66 66 20 61 6e 64  ith -- Cliff and
15ae0 20 49 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 74 72 79   Idecided to try
15af0 20 74 68 69 73 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20 57 69 74 68   this out.  With
15b00 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 61 6d 62   the kind of amb
15b10 69 74 69 6f 75 73 20 79 6f 75 6e 67 20 63 72 79  itious young cry
15b20 70 74 6f 74 72 61 64 65 72 20 67 75 79 73 20 77  ptotrader guys w
15b30 65 20 75 73 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 67 65 74 2c 20 74  e usually get, t
15b40 68 65 20 75 70 73 65 6c 6c 73 20 61 6e 64 20 72  he upsells and r
15b50 65 70 65 61 74 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 77  epeat business w
15b60 65 20 67 65 74 20 67 6f 65 73 20 77 61 79 20 75  e get goes way u
15b70 70 20 77 68 65 6e 20 49 27 6d 20 64 6f 69 6e 67  p when I'm doing
15b80 20 74 68 65 20 74 72 61 64 65 73 2e 20 20 49 6e   the trades.  In
15b90 20 74 77 6f 20 79 65 61 72 73 2c 20 77 65 20 6f   two years, we o
15ba0 6e 6c 79 20 68 61 64 20 6f 6e 65 20 67 75 79 20  nly had one guy 
15bb0 77 68 6f 20 64 65 63 69 64 65 64 20 6d 65 20 62  who decided me b
15bc0 65 69 6e 67 20 61 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 67 69  eing a pretty gi
15bd0 72 6c 20 6d 61 64 65 20 6d 65 20 61 6e 20 65 61  rl made me an ea
15be0 73 79 20 74 61 72 67 65 74 2c 20 74 6f 6f 2c 20  sy target, too, 
15bf0 73 6f 20 69 74 27 73 20 70 72 65 74 74 79 20 73  so it's pretty s
15c00 61 66 65 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 72 6f  afe."..Alley fro
15c10 77 6e 65 64 2e 20 20 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73  wned.  "Yeah," s
15c20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65  he said.  "I gue
15c30 73 73 20 74 68 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 64 61 6e 67  ss that's a dang
15c40 65 72 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 68 61 70 70 65 6e  er.  What happen
15c50 65 64 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4f 68 2c 20 73 68 69 74 2c  ed?".."Oh, shit,
15c60 22 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20  " Carmen said.  
15c70 22 59 6f 75 20 6d 75 73 74 20 62 65 20 6e 65 77  "You must be new
15c80 20 61 74 20 74 68 69 73 2e 20 20 57 65 6c 6c 2c   at this.  Well,
15c90 20 49 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75 74 20 6d 79   I pulled out my
15ca0 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 61 6e 64 20 43 6c 69 66 66   baton and Cliff
15cb0 20 70 75 74 20 61 20 72 65 64 20 64 6f 74 20 6f   put a red dot o
15cc0 6e 20 74 68 65 20 67 75 79 27 73 20 63 68 65 73  n the guy's ches
15cd0 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 6c 61 73 65 72  t with the laser
15ce0 20 73 69 67 68 74 20 6f 6e 20 68 69 73 20 72 69   sight on his ri
15cf0 66 6c 65 2e 20 20 54 68 65 20 67 75 79 20 62 61  fle.  The guy ba
15d00 63 6b 65 64 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 69 6e 20 61 20 68  cked down in a h
15d10 75 72 72 79 2e 20 20 41 72 65 20 79 6f 75 20 63  urry.  Are you c
15d20 61 72 72 79 69 6e 67 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 69  arrying protecti
15d30 6f 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 61 72  on?"..Alley star
15d40 74 65 64 20 6f 70 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20  ted opening her 
15d50 6d 6f 75 74 68 20 74 6f 20 72 65 70 6c 79 2c 20  mouth to reply, 
15d60 62 75 74 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 63 75 74 20 69  but Carmen cut i
15d70 6e 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 64  n again..."No, d
15d80 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 65 6c 6c 20 6d 65 20 77 68 61  on't tell me wha
15d90 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 63 61 72 72 79 69 6e  t you're carryin
15da0 67 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 6e 27  g.  You shouldn'
15db0 74 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 62  t get in the hab
15dc0 69 74 20 6f 66 20 74 65 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 70 65  it of telling pe
15dd0 6f 70 6c 65 20 73 74 75 66 66 20 6c 69 6b 65 20  ople stuff like 
15de0 74 68 61 74 2e 20 20 47 65 74 20 79 6f 75 72 73  that.  Get yours
15df0 65 6c 66 20 74 68 72 65 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73  elf three things
15e00 2c 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 61  , if you don't a
15e10 6c 72 65 61 64 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 27 65 6d 2e  lready have 'em.
15e20 20 20 59 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 70 65 70 70 65    You need peppe
15e30 72 20 73 70 72 61 79 20 6f 72 20 61 20 73 6f 6e  r spray or a son
15e40 69 63 20 72 65 70 65 6c 6c 61 6e 74 2c 20 61 20  ic repellant, a 
15e50 63 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e  collapsing baton
15e60 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 62 61 63 6b 75 70 20 77 68 6f  , and backup who
15e70 20 6b 6e 6f 77 73 20 77 68 61 74 20 68 65 27 73   knows what he's
15e80 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 2c 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 43 6c 69   doing, like Cli
15e90 66 66 2e 22 0a 0a 22 55 68 2c 20 74 68 61 6e 6b  ff.".."Uh, thank
15ea0 73 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20  s," Alley said. 
15eb0 20 22 41 72 65 6e 27 74 20 74 68 6f 73 65 20 63   "Aren't those c
15ec0 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 73  ollapsing batons
15ed0 20 69 6c 6c 65 67 61 6c 3f 22 0a 0a 22 59 65 61   illegal?".."Yea
15ee0 68 2c 20 43 61 6c 69 66 6f 72 6e 69 61 20 73 75  h, California su
15ef0 63 6b 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 2e 20 20 47  cks that way.  G
15f00 69 72 6c 73 20 61 72 65 6e 27 74 20 61 6c 6c 6f  irls aren't allo
15f10 77 65 64 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 74 65 63 74 20 74  wed to protect t
15f20 68 65 6d 73 65 6c 76 65 73 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6b  hemselves, you k
15f30 6e 6f 77 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65  now."  She pulle
15f40 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 61 62 6f 75  d something abou
15f50 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 69 7a 65 20 6f 66 20 61 20  t the size of a 
15f60 77 68 69 74 65 62 6f 61 72 64 20 6d 61 72 6b 65  whiteboard marke
15f70 72 20 6f 75 74 20 6f 66 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 63  r out of her bac
15f80 6b 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2e 20 20 22 53 65 65 20  k pocket.  "See 
15f90 74 68 69 73 3f 20 20 54 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 61  this?  This is a
15fa0 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 41   good baton."..A
15fb0 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74  lley looked at t
15fc0 68 65 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 61 6e 6f 64 69 7a 65  he black anodize
15fd0 64 20 61 6c 75 6d 69 6e 75 6d 20 63 79 6c 69 6e  d aluminum cylin
15fe0 64 65 72 20 77 68 65 6e 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20  der when Carmen 
15ff0 68 65 6c 64 20 69 74 20 75 70 2e 20 20 49 74 20  held it up.  It 
16000 68 61 64 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 20 6f 66  had some kind of
16010 20 6c 6f 67 6f 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 20 61 6e 64 20   logo on it and 
16020 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 6f 66 20 64 65 70 72  a couple of depr
16030 65 73 73 65 64 20 6f 76 61 6c 73 20 6f 6e 20 74  essed ovals on t
16040 68 65 20 73 69 64 65 2e 0a 0a 22 50 75 73 68 20  he side..."Push 
16050 74 68 65 73 65 20 74 77 6f 20 73 70 6f 74 73 20  these two spots 
16060 74 6f 20 70 6f 70 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 2e 20 20  to pop it out.  
16070 4a 75 73 74 20 70 75 73 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 65  Just push the se
16080 63 6f 6e 64 20 6f 6e 65 2c 20 68 65 72 65 2c 20  cond one, here, 
16090 61 6e 64 20 70 75 73 68 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 73  and push the bus
160a0 69 6e 65 73 73 20 65 6e 64 20 61 67 61 69 73 6e  iness end agaisn
160b0 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 68 61 72 64  t something hard
160c0 20 74 6f 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 65 20 74 68 65   to collapse the
160d0 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 6e 74 6f   baton back into
160e0 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 2e 20 20 59 65   the handle.  Ye
160f0 61 68 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6e 6f 64 64  ah?"..Alley nodd
16100 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 20 74 68  ed.  "I guess th
16110 61 74 27 73 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 64 65 73 69  at's a good desi
16120 67 6e 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 6f 74  gn, then.".."Tot
16130 61 6c 6c 79 2e 20 20 57 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20  ally.  With the 
16140 74 77 6f 20 72 65 6c 65 61 73 65 20 70 6f 69 6e  two release poin
16150 74 73 2c 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c  ts, you're not l
16160 69 6b 65 6c 79 20 74 6f 20 61 63 63 69 64 65 6e  ikely to acciden
16170 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 70 6f 70 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74  tally pop it out
16180 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20   when you don't 
16190 77 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 69  want to, and thi
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16390 0a 0a 22 48 65 72 65 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 68  .."Here."  She h
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163d0 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 72 79 20 6f 70  .  "Don't try op
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16450 20 55 6e 6c 69 6b 65 20 6f 75 72 20 70 69 73 74   Unlike our pist
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164f0 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 72 6f 7a 65 20 77  "..Alley froze w
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16540 74 6f 20 6d 65 3f 22 20 73 68 65 20 61 73 6b 65  to me?" she aske
16550 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 20 20 55 68 2c 20  d..."Yeah.  Uh, 
16560 6a 75 73 74 20 61 20 73 65 63 27 2c 22 20 43 61  just a sec'," Ca
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165c0 59 65 73 2c 20 43 6c 69 66 66 2c 20 49 27 6d 20  Yes, Cliff, I'm 
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18410 75 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 2c 20 49 27 6c 6c  u that way, I'll
18420 20 74 72 61 63 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 77 6e 20   track you down 
18430 73 6f 20 77 65 20 63 61 6e 20 74 61 6c 6b 2e 22  so we can talk."
18440 0a 0a 41 66 74 65 72 20 61 20 66 65 77 20 73 65  ..After a few se
18450 63 6f 6e 64 73 2c 20 73 68 65 20 72 65 6d 65 6d  conds, she remem
18460 62 65 72 65 64 20 74 6f 20 62 72 65 61 74 68 65  bered to breathe
18470 2e 20 20 22 4e 6f 2c 20 79 6f 75 27 6c 6c 20 62  .  "No, you'll b
18480 65 20 61 62 6c 65 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e  e able to get in
18490 20 74 6f 75 63 68 20 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20   touch the same 
184a0 77 61 79 20 77 65 20 73 65 74 20 74 68 69 73 20  way we set this 
184b0 75 70 2e 20 20 54 68 61 74 27 6c 6c 20 62 65 20  up.  That'll be 
184c0 66 69 6e 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 2e 20 20  fine.".."Good.  
184d0 59 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 66 69 6e 64 20 6d 65 20  You can find me 
184e0 74 68 65 20 73 61 6d 65 20 77 61 79 20 69 66 20  the same way if 
184f0 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 74 6f 20 73 65 74 74  you need to sett
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18510 68 20 77 68 61 74 20 49 20 67 61 76 65 20 79 6f  h what I gave yo
18520 75 2e 22 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e  u."..She nodded.
18530 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 20 62 75  .."Good doing bu
18540 73 69 6e 65 73 73 20 77 69 74 68 20 79 6f 75 2c  siness with you,
18550 22 20 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22 59 6f 75  " he said.  "You
18560 20 63 61 6e 20 67 6f 20 66 69 72 73 74 2c 20 69   can go first, i
18570 66 20 79 6f 75 20 77 61 6e 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 53  f you want.".."S
18580 75 72 65 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20  ure," she said. 
18590 20 22 48 61 76 65 20 61 20 67 6f 6f 64 20 64 61   "Have a good da
185a0 79 2e 22 0a 0a 48 65 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a  y."..He nodded..
185b0 0a 53 68 65 20 62 61 63 6b 65 64 20 61 77 61 79  .She backed away
185c0 20 61 20 63 6f 75 70 6c 65 20 73 74 65 70 73 2c   a couple steps,
185d0 20 74 68 65 6e 20 74 75 72 6e 65 64 20 61 6e 64   then turned and
185e0 20 63 6f 6e 74 69 6e 75 65 64 20 75 6e 74 69 6c   continued until
185f0 20 73 68 65 20 67 6f 74 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20   she got to the 
18600 63 6f 72 6e 65 72 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 67 6c 61  corner.  She gla
18610 6e 63 65 64 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 77 69 63 65 20  nced back twice 
18620 61 6c 6f 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 77 61 79 2c 20 74  along the way, t
18630 68 65 6e 20 6f 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 6a 75  hen once more ju
18640 73 74 20 62 65 66 6f 72 65 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20  st before going 
18650 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 72 6e 65  around the corne
18660 72 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 62 75 69 6c 64 69 6e  r of the buildin
18670 67 2e 0a 0a 49 6e 20 68 65 72 20 63 61 72 20 6f  g...In her car o
18680 6e 63 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 2c 20 73 68 65 20 73 74  nce more, she st
18690 61 72 74 65 64 20 69 74 20 75 70 20 61 6e 64 20  arted it up and 
186a0 64 72 6f 76 65 20 61 69 6d 6c 65 73 73 6c 79 20  drove aimlessly 
186b0 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 20 66 6f 72 20 68 61 6c 66 20  around for half 
186c0 61 6e 20 68 6f 75 72 20 75 6e 74 69 6c 20 68 65  an hour until he
186d0 72 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 73 74 6f 70 70 65 64 20  r hands stopped 
186e0 73 68 61 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 6e 64 20 68 65 72 20  shaking and her 
186f0 63 6c 65 6e 63 68 65 64 20 6a 61 77 20 72 65 6c  clenched jaw rel
18700 61 78 65 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 68 65 61 64 65  axed, then heade
18710 64 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 20 74  d home..."What t
18720 68 65 20 66 75 63 6b 20 61 6d 20 49 20 61 63 74  he fuck am I act
18730 75 61 6c 6c 79 20 64 6f 69 6e 67 3f 22 20 73 68  ually doing?" sh
18740 65 20 61 73 6b 65 64 20 68 65 72 73 65 6c 66 2e  e asked herself.
18750 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a 53 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 6f  ..---..Sitting o
18760 6e 20 68 65 72 20 63 6f 75 63 68 20 61 67 61 69  n her couch agai
18770 6e 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 49  n, Alley said "I
18780 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 20 66 65 65 6c 20 73 61 66 65   don't feel safe
18790 20 77 69 74 68 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 6e 64 73 20   with the kinds 
187a0 6f 66 20 64 65 61 6c 73 20 49 20 6d 61 64 65 20  of deals I made 
187b0 74 6f 64 61 79 2e 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72 69  today."..The pri
187c0 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22 59  oritizer said "Y
187d0 6f 75 20 64 69 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 73 70 65 63 69  ou did not speci
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187f0 72 65 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 66 6f 72 20 73 61  reference for sa
18800 66 65 74 79 2e 20 20 45 73 74 69 6d 61 74 69 6f  fety.  Estimatio
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18820 63 68 61 6e 63 65 20 6f 66 20 70 6f 6f 72 20 73  chance of poor s
18830 61 66 65 74 79 20 6f 75 74 63 6f 6d 65 73 20 69  afety outcomes i
18840 73 20 76 65 72 79 20 6c 6f 77 20 66 6f 72 20 74  s very low for t
18850 68 65 73 65 20 74 72 61 6e 73 61 63 74 69 6f 6e  hese transaction
18860 73 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 73 65 76 65 72 69  s, though severi
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18880 6f 72 20 70 6f 6f 72 20 6f 75 74 63 6f 6d 65 73  or poor outcomes
18890 2e 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 72 65 63 6f 6e  ..."I will recon
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188b0 6f 72 20 66 75 74 75 72 65 20 61 63 74 69 76 69  or future activi
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18930 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 6e 6b 73 2e 22 0a 0a  k.".."Thanks."..
18940 22 59 6f 75 20 61 72 65 20 77 65 6c 63 6f 6d 65  "You are welcome
18950 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 27 73 20 6e 65 78 74  .".."What's next
18960 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 3f 22 0a 0a 54 68 65 20 70 72  , then?"..The pr
18970 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73 61 69 64 20 22  ioritizer said "
18980 49 20 61 6d 20 72 65 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 69  I am reconsideri
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189a0 69 67 68 74 20 6f 66 20 6e 65 77 20 72 69 73 6b  ight of new risk
189b0 20 61 73 73 65 73 73 6d 65 6e 74 20 70 72 69 6f   assessment prio
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189e0 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65   minutes."..Alle
189f0 79 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20  y looked at the 
18a00 65 6e 76 65 6c 6f 70 65 20 6f 66 20 63 61 73 68  envelope of cash
18a10 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 64 20 6f 75  , then pulled ou
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18a30 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 67 61  counted them aga
18a40 69 6e 2e 20 20 54 68 65 79 20 61 64 64 65 64 20  in.  They added 
18a50 75 70 20 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 65 78 70 65 63 74  up as she expect
18a60 65 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f  ed, but the prio
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18a90 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 61 74 3f 20  again.".."What? 
18aa0 20 57 68 79 3f 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 69 6c 65 20 79   Why?".."While y
18ab0 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 64 2c 20 2f 2a 20 69  ou counted, /* i
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18b10 64 20 53 74 61 74 65 73 20 66 65 64 65 72 61 6c  d States federal
18b20 20 72 65 73 65 72 76 65 20 6e 6f 74 65 73 2c 20   reserve notes, 
18b30 61 6e 64 20 61 6c 73 6f 20 61 70 70 65 61 72 65  and also appeare
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18b50 2e 20 20 50 65 72 68 61 70 73 20 73 6f 6d 65 20  .  Perhaps some 
18b60 6f 66 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 6e 6f 74 65 73 20 69  of these notes i
18b70 73 20 61 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 65 72 66 65 69 74 2e  s a counterfeit.
18b80 20 20 50 6c 65 61 73 65 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 61    Please count a
18b90 67 61 69 6e 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 49 20 77 61 74  gain while I wat
18ba0 63 68 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 72 6f 77  ch."..Alley frow
18bb0 6e 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 63 6b  ned at the stack
18bc0 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 20 63 6f  , and started co
18bd0 75 6e 74 69 6e 67 20 61 67 61 69 6e 2e 20 20 54  unting again.  T
18be0 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 64 2c 20 73  oward the end, s
18bf0 68 65 20 68 65 73 69 74 61 74 65 64 20 6f 6e 20  he hesitated on 
18c00 6f 6e 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 66 65 77 20 6e  one of the few n
18c10 65 77 2d 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 62 69 6c 6c 73  ew-looking bills
18c20 20 69 6e 20 74 68 65 20 73 74 61 63 6b 2c 20 77   in the stack, w
18c30 69 74 68 20 61 20 66 65 65 6c 69 6e 67 20 6c 69  ith a feeling li
18c40 6b 65 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 77 61 73  ke something was
18c50 20 77 72 6f 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 22 54 68 61 74 20 69   wrong..."That i
18c60 73 20 74 68 65 20 6e 6f 74 65 20 77 68 6f 73 65  s the note whose
18c70 20 74 68 69 63 6b 6e 65 73 73 20 61 70 70 65 61   thickness appea
18c80 72 73 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 69 6e 63 6f 72 72 65  rs to be incorre
18c90 63 74 2e 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 70 75 6c 6c  ct."..Alley pull
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18cb0 20 73 74 61 63 6b 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65   stack and looke
18cc0 64 20 63 6c 6f 73 65 72 2e 20 20 49 74 20 66 65  d closer.  It fe
18cd0 6c 74 20 73 74 69 66 66 65 72 20 74 68 61 6e 20  lt stiffer than 
18ce0 6d 6f 73 74 20 62 69 6c 6c 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20  most bills, but 
18cf0 74 68 61 74 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6a 75 73 74 20  that could just 
18d00 62 65 20 64 75 65 20 74 6f 20 69 74 20 62 65 69  be due to it bei
18d10 6e 67 20 6e 65 77 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 72 75 62  ng new.  She rub
18d20 62 65 64 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 20  bed it to get a 
18d30 66 65 65 6c 20 66 6f 72 20 69 74 73 20 73 75 72  feel for its sur
18d40 66 61 63 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 74 20 73 65 70  face, and it sep
18d50 61 72 61 74 65 64 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 74 77 6f 20  arated into two 
18d60 62 69 6c 6c 73 2e 20 20 22 4f 68 2c 20 73 68 69  bills.  "Oh, shi
18d70 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 22  t," she said.  "
18d80 54 68 61 74 20 73 63 61 72 79 20 77 61 72 20 76  That scary war v
18d90 65 74 65 72 61 6e 20 67 75 79 20 61 63 63 69 64  eteran guy accid
18da0 65 6e 74 61 6c 6c 79 20 67 61 76 65 20 6d 65 20  entally gave me 
18db0 61 6e 20 65 78 74 72 61 20 74 77 65 6e 74 79 2e  an extra twenty.
18dc0 20 20 46 75 63 6b 2e 20 20 57 68 61 74 20 69 66    Fuck.  What if
18dd0 20 69 74 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 61 6e 20 61 63   it wasn't an ac
18de0 63 69 64 65 6e 74 3f 20 20 4d 61 79 62 65 20 69  cident?  Maybe i
18df0 74 27 73 20 61 20 74 65 73 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 54  t's a test.".."T
18e00 68 61 74 20 73 65 65 6d 73 20 65 78 74 72 65 6d  hat seems extrem
18e10 65 6c 79 20 75 6e 6c 69 6b 65 6c 79 2c 22 20 74  ely unlikely," t
18e20 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65 72 20 73  he prioritizer s
18e30 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2e 22 20 20 53  aid..."Yeah."  S
18e40 68 65 20 73 69 67 68 65 64 2e 20 20 22 49 20 67  he sighed.  "I g
18e50 75 65 73 73 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 72 69 67 68  uess you're righ
18e60 74 2c 20 61 63 74 75 61 6c 6c 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22  t, actually.".."
18e70 49 20 68 61 76 65 20 61 20 70 6c 61 6e 20 6f 66  I have a plan of
18e80 20 61 63 74 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 70 72 6f 70 6f   action to propo
18e90 73 65 20 66 6f 72 20 74 6f 6d 6f 72 72 6f 77 2e  se for tomorrow.
18ea0 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64  "..Alley started
18eb0 20 74 6f 20 6e 6f 64 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6c 6f   to nod, then lo
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18ed0 61 20 74 77 65 6e 74 79 20 69 6e 20 68 65 72 20  a twenty in her 
18ee0 68 61 6e 64 2e 20 20 22 57 61 69 74 2e 20 20 49  hand.  "Wait.  I
18ef0 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 67 69 76 65 20 74 68 69   should give thi
18f00 73 20 62 69 6c 6c 20 62 61 63 6b 20 74 6f 20 74  s bill back to t
18f10 68 61 74 20 67 75 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22 46 6f 72 20  hat guy.".."For 
18f20 61 20 68 69 67 68 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 79 20  a high priority 
18f30 61 76 65 72 73 69 6f 6e 20 74 6f 20 68 69 67 68  aversion to high
18f40 20 73 65 76 65 72 69 74 79 20 72 69 73 6b 73 2c   severity risks,
18f50 20 74 68 69 73 20 69 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 61 20 67   this is not a g
18f60 6f 6f 64 20 63 68 6f 69 63 65 2e 20 20 59 6f 75  ood choice.  You
18f70 20 73 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 61 76 6f 69 64 20 6d 65   should avoid me
18f80 65 74 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 70 65 6f 70 6c  eting with peopl
18f90 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 68 69 67 68 20 70 6f  e with a high po
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18fc0 75 67 68 65 64 20 71 75 69 65 74 6c 79 2e 20 20  ughed quietly.  
18fd0 22 59 65 61 68 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64  "Yeah," she said
18fe0 2c 20 22 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e  , "you're right.
18ff0 20 20 49 20 67 6f 74 20 74 68 72 6f 75 67 68 20    I got through 
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19010 6f 75 74 20 74 72 6f 75 62 6c 65 20 77 69 74 68  out trouble with
19020 20 68 69 6d 20 61 6c 72 65 61 64 79 2e 20 20 53   him already.  S
19030 68 6f 75 6c 64 20 49 20 63 6f 75 6e 74 20 74 68  hould I count th
19040 61 74 20 61 73 20 6d 79 20 6c 75 63 6b 79 20 62  at as my lucky b
19050 72 65 61 6b 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 66 6f 72 67 65 74  reak, and forget
19060 20 61 62 6f 75 74 20 68 69 6d 2c 20 6f 72 20 74   about him, or t
19070 61 6b 65 20 69 74 20 61 73 20 65 76 69 64 65 6e  ake it as eviden
19080 63 65 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20  ce that I might 
19090 6e 6f 74 20 62 65 20 69 6e 20 61 6e 79 20 64 61  not be in any da
190a0 6e 67 65 72 20 69 66 20 49 20 6d 65 65 74 20 68  nger if I meet h
190b0 69 6d 20 61 67 61 69 6e 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65  im again to give
190c0 20 62 61 63 6b 20 68 69 73 20 6d 69 73 70 6c 61   back his mispla
190d0 63 65 64 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 3f 0a 0a 22 49 74 20  ced money?.."It 
190e0 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 66 65 65 6c 20 72 69 67  doesn't feel rig
190f0 68 74 2c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 6b 65 65 70 69 6e 67  ht, just keeping
19100 20 68 69 73 20 6d 6f 6e 65 79 2c 20 74 68 6f 75   his money, thou
19110 67 68 2e 22 0a 0a 22 57 68 79 20 64 6f 20 79 6f  gh.".."Why do yo
19120 75 20 66 65 65 6c 20 74 68 61 74 20 77 61 79 3f  u feel that way?
19130 22 20 74 68 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 65  " the prioritize
19140 72 20 61 73 6b 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 49 74 27 73 20  r asked..."It's 
19150 64 69 73 68 6f 6e 65 73 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20  dishonest," she 
19160 73 61 69 64 2e 0a 0a 22 59 6f 75 20 64 69 64 20  said..."You did 
19170 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 65 20 74 6f 20 68 69 6d 2e 22  not lie to him."
19180 0a 0a 22 54 72 75 65 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 69 64 20  .."True.".."Did 
19190 79 6f 75 20 72 65 61 6c 69 7a 65 20 74 68 65 72  you realize ther
191a0 65 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 62 65 20 6d 6f 72 65 20  e might be more 
191b0 6d 6f 6e 65 79 20 74 68 61 6e 20 68 65 20 69 6e  money than he in
191c0 74 65 6e 64 65 64 20 74 6f 20 67 69 76 65 20 79  tended to give y
191d0 6f 75 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 6f 75 20 63 6f 75 6e  ou when you coun
191e0 74 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 74 69  ted the first ti
191f0 6d 65 3f 22 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2e 22 0a 0a 22 48 6f  me?".."No.".."Ho
19200 77 20 69 73 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 69 73 68 6f 6e  w is that dishon
19210 65 73 74 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 20 6c  est?"..Alley's l
19220 69 70 73 20 74 69 67 68 74 65 6e 65 64 20 66 6f  ips tightened fo
19230 72 20 61 20 6d 6f 6d 65 6e 74 2e 20 20 22 49 20  r a moment.  "I 
19240 67 75 65 73 73 20 64 69 73 68 6f 6e 65 73 74 20  guess dishonest 
19250 69 73 6e 27 74 20 74 68 65 20 72 69 67 68 74 20  isn't the right 
19260 77 6f 72 64 2c 20 62 75 74 20 49 27 6d 20 74 61  word, but I'm ta
19270 6b 69 6e 67 20 61 64 76 61 6e 74 61 67 65 20 6f  king advantage o
19280 66 20 68 69 6d 20 69 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 77 61  f him in some wa
19290 79 20 74 68 61 74 20 64 6f 65 73 6e 27 74 20 66  y that doesn't f
192a0 65 65 6c 20 72 69 67 68 74 2e 20 20 46 6f 72 20  eel right.  For 
192b0 61 6c 6c 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77 2c 20 74 68 61 74  all I know, that
192c0 20 74 77 65 6e 74 79 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 65 6e   twenty might en
192d0 64 20 75 70 20 62 65 69 6e 67 20 74 68 65 20 64  d up being the d
192e0 69 66 66 65 72 65 6e 63 65 20 62 65 74 77 65 65  ifference betwee
192f0 6e 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 20 62 61 64 20  n something bad 
19300 68 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 68 69 6d 20 68 61 72 64  hitting him hard
19310 20 61 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 20 61   at some point a
19320 6e 64 20 6e 6f 74 20 68 69 74 74 69 6e 67 20 68  nd not hitting h
19330 69 6d 20 61 74 20 61 6c 6c 2e 22 0a 0a 22 44 6f  im at all.".."Do
19340 20 79 6f 75 20 66 65 65 6c 20 79 6f 75 20 6f 77   you feel you ow
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19360 64 65 72 61 74 69 6f 6e 2c 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e  deration, person
19370 61 6c 6c 79 3f 22 0a 0a 2f 2a 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 74  ally?"../*.."Not
19380 20 65 78 61 63 74 6c 79 20 6f 77 65 20 68 69 6d   exactly owe him
19390 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73 2c 20 62 75 74 20 68  , I guess, but h
193a0 65 20 68 61 73 6e 27 74 20 64 6f 6e 65 20 61 6e  e hasn't done an
193b0 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 75 72 74 20 6d  ything to hurt m
193c0 65 20 6f 72 20 74 61 6b 65 20 61 64 76 61 6e 74  e or take advant
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193e0 6e 65 20 61 6e 79 74 68 69 6e 67 20 65 6c 73 65  ne anything else
193f0 20 62 61 64 20 74 68 61 74 20 49 20 6b 6e 6f 77   bad that I know
19400 20 61 62 6f 75 74 2c 20 73 6f 20 49 20 73 68 6f   about, so I sho
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19420 20 69 73 6e 27 74 20 77 6f 72 74 68 20 74 72 65   isn't worth tre
19430 61 74 69 6e 67 20 77 69 74 68 20 72 65 73 70 65  ating with respe
19440 63 74 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 20 77 69 6c 6c 20 63 6f  ct.".."I will co
19450 6e 73 69 64 65 72 20 74 68 69 73 20 77 68 65 6e  nsider this when
19460 20 63 6f 6e 73 69 64 65 72 69 6e 67 20 66 75 74   considering fut
19470 75 72 65 20 70 72 69 6f 72 69 74 69 7a 61 74 69  ure prioritizati
19480 6f 6e 20 73 74 72 61 74 65 67 79 2e 22 0a 0a 22  on strategy.".."
19490 43 6f 6f 6c 2e 20 20 49 27 6d 20 67 6f 69 6e 67  Cool.  I'm going
194a0 20 74 6f 20 73 65 6e 64 20 68 69 6d 20 61 20 6d   to send him a m
194b0 65 73 73 61 67 65 20 6e 6f 77 2e 20 20 57 65 20  essage now.  We 
194c0 63 61 6e 20 74 61 6c 6b 20 61 62 6f 75 74 0a 0a  can talk about..
194d0 2a 2f 0a 0a 22 4e 6f 2c 20 49 20 67 75 65 73 73  */.."No, I guess
194e0 20 6e 6f 74 2c 22 20 73 68 65 20 73 61 69 64 2e   not," she said.
194f0 20 20 22 49 74 27 73 20 6e 6f 74 20 6c 69 6b 65    "It's not like
19500 20 49 20 72 69 70 70 65 64 20 68 69 6d 20 6f 66   I ripped him of
19510 66 2c 20 6f 72 20 6c 69 65 64 20 74 6f 20 68 69  f, or lied to hi
19520 6d 2c 20 6f 72 20 65 76 65 6e 20 70 72 65 74 65  m, or even prete
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1bd00 20 73 6f 2c 20 74 68 69 73 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20   so, this could 
1bd10 62 65 63 6f 6d 65 20 74 68 65 20 66 69 72 73 74  become the first
1bd20 20 70 69 6e 63 68 20 70 6f 69 6e 74 2e 0a 0a 2a   pinch point...*
1bd30 2f 0a                                            /.