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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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14c50 20 6d 6f 76 65 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 61 20 77 65 65 move into a wee
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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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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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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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14f80 68 65 61 76 79 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 62 6f 6f 74 heavy black boot
14f90 73 2c 20 61 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 6d 61 73 6b 2c s, a black mask,
14fa0 20 61 6e 64 20 62 6c 61 63 6b 20 67 6c 6f 76 65 and black glove
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14fc0 20 63 68 65 61 70 20 73 79 6e 74 68 65 74 69 63 cheap synthetic
14fd0 20 64 72 61 77 73 74 72 69 6e 67 20 62 61 67 20 drawstring bag
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15010 74 68 69 6e 67 20 6c 69 6b 65 20 61 20 74 61 63 thing like a tac
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15040 53 68 65 20 77 61 73 6e 27 74 20 77 68 61 74 20 She wasn't what
15050 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 65 78 70 65 63 74 65 64 20 69 Alley expected i
15060 6e 20 61 6e 20 61 6e 6f 6e 79 6d 6f 75 73 20 67 n an anonymous g
15070 75 6e 20 70 61 72 74 73 20 74 72 61 64 65 2e 0a un parts trade..
15080 0a 54 68 65 20 72 65 64 68 65 61 64 20 77 61 74 .The redhead wat
15090 63 68 65 64 20 73 74 65 61 64 69 6c 79 20 61 73 ched steadily as
150a0 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 61 70 70 72 6f 61 63 68 65 Alley approache
150b0 64 2c 20 77 69 74 68 20 77 68 61 74 20 74 75 72 d, with what tur
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
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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
161a0 73 20 74 79 70 65 20 69 73 20 6d 6f 72 65 20 73 s type is more s
161b0 6f 6c 69 64 20 61 6e 64 20 65 61 73 69 65 72 20 olid and easier
161c0 74 6f 20 72 65 74 72 61 63 74 20 74 68 61 6e 20 to retract than
161d0 74 68 65 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 77 68 65 72 65 the things where
161e0 20 79 6f 75 20 6a 75 73 74 20 73 6e 61 70 20 79 you just snap y
161f0 6f 75 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 our hand out to
16200 6f 70 65 6e 20 74 68 65 6d 2e 20 20 41 6e 79 77 open them. Anyw
16210 61 79 2c 20 79 6f 75 20 6e 65 65 64 20 6f 6e 65 ay, you need one
16220 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 73 65 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 69 of these, and i
16230 74 27 73 20 65 61 73 79 20 74 6f 20 74 6f 73 73 t's easy to toss
16240 20 69 74 20 73 6f 6d 65 77 68 65 72 65 20 62 65 it somewhere be
16250 66 6f 72 65 20 63 6f 70 73 20 67 65 74 20 74 6f fore cops get to
16260 20 79 6f 75 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 61 you if you're a
16270 66 72 61 69 64 20 6f 66 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 fraid of getting
16280 20 63 61 75 67 68 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 63 caught with a c
16290 6f 6e 63 65 61 6c 65 64 20 77 65 61 70 6f 6e 2c oncealed weapon,
162a0 20 6f 72 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 63 75 74 20 61 or if you cut a
162b0 20 6c 69 74 74 6c 65 20 68 6f 6c 65 20 69 6e 20 little hole in
162c0 74 68 65 20 69 6e 73 69 64 65 20 6f 66 20 79 6f the inside of yo
162d0 75 72 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 20 77 68 65 6e 20 79 ur pocket when y
162e0 6f 75 27 72 65 20 77 65 61 72 69 6e 67 20 70 61 ou're wearing pa
162f0 6e 74 73 20 79 6f 75 20 63 61 6e 20 64 72 6f 70 nts you can drop
16300 20 69 74 20 64 6f 77 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 70 61 it down your pa
16310 6e 74 20 6c 65 67 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 6d 61 79 62 nt leg, and mayb
16320 65 20 73 74 65 70 20 6f 6e 20 69 74 20 74 6f 20 e step on it to
16330 68 69 64 65 20 69 74 20 77 68 69 6c 65 20 67 65 hide it while ge
16340 74 74 69 6e 67 20 70 61 74 74 65 64 20 64 6f 77 tting patted dow
16350 6e 2c 20 6f 72 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 68 69 6e 67 2e n, or something.
16360 20 20 54 68 65 72 65 20 61 72 65 20 61 20 62 75 There are a bu
16370 6e 63 68 20 6f 66 20 77 61 79 73 20 74 6f 20 67 nch of ways to g
16380 65 74 20 61 77 61 79 20 77 69 74 68 20 69 74 2e et away with it.
16390 0a 0a 22 48 65 72 65 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 68 .."Here." She h
163a0 65 6c 64 20 69 74 20 6f 75 74 20 74 6f 20 41 6c eld it out to Al
163b0 6c 65 79 2c 20 77 68 6f 20 73 74 61 72 74 65 64 ley, who started
163c0 20 74 6f 20 72 65 61 63 68 20 66 6f 72 20 69 74 to reach for it
163d0 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 74 72 79 20 6f 70 . "Don't try op
163e0 65 6e 69 6e 67 20 69 74 20 68 65 72 65 2c 20 62 ening it here, b
163f0 75 74 20 70 72 61 63 74 69 63 65 20 77 69 74 68 ut practice with
16400 20 69 74 20 61 74 20 68 6f 6d 65 2e 20 20 54 68 it at home. Th
16410 61 74 20 77 61 79 20 79 6f 75 20 64 6f 6e 27 74 at way you don't
16420 20 68 61 76 65 20 74 6f 20 77 6f 72 72 79 20 61 have to worry a
16430 62 6f 75 74 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 20 63 61 75 bout getting cau
16440 67 68 74 20 62 75 79 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 65 2e 20 ght buying one.
16450 20 55 6e 6c 69 6b 65 20 6f 75 72 20 70 69 73 74 Unlike our pist
16460 6f 6c 20 66 72 61 6d 65 73 2c 20 77 61 6c 6b 69 ol frames, walki
16470 6e 67 20 68 6f 6d 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 6f 6e 65 ng home with one
16480 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 of these in you
16490 72 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 20 69 73 20 69 6c 6c 65 r pocket is ille
164a0 67 61 6c 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 61 20 63 6f 70 20 6d gal, and a cop m
164b0 69 67 68 74 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 72 79 20 73 65 ight just try se
164c0 6c 6c 69 6e 67 20 6f 6e 65 20 74 6f 20 79 6f 75 lling one to you
164d0 20 74 6f 20 67 65 74 20 61 6e 20 65 78 63 75 73 to get an excus
164e0 65 20 74 6f 20 68 61 72 61 73 73 20 79 6f 75 2e e to harass you.
164f0 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 72 6f 7a 65 20 77 "..Alley froze w
16500 69 74 68 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 68 61 6c ith her hand hal
16510 66 77 61 79 20 74 6f 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 74 6f fway to the bato
16520 6e 20 68 61 6e 64 6c 65 2e 20 20 22 41 72 65 20 n handle. "Are
16530 79 6f 75 20 67 69 76 69 6e 67 20 74 68 69 73 20 you giving this
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
16570 72 6d 65 6e 20 73 61 69 64 2e 20 20 6c 6f 77 65 rmen said. lowe
16580 72 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 77 69 74 red her hand wit
16590 68 20 74 68 65 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 69 h the baton in i
165a0 74 20 61 6e 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 74 6f 77 t and looked tow
165b0 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 41 75 64 69 2e 20 20 22 ard the Audi. "
165c0 59 65 73 2c 20 43 6c 69 66 66 2c 20 49 27 6d 20 Yes, Cliff, I'm
165d0 67 69 76 69 6e 67 20 68 65 72 20 74 68 65 20 66 giving her the f
165e0 75 63 6b 69 6e 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 2e 20 20 49 ucking baton. I
165f0 27 6c 6c 20 6a 75 73 74 20 62 75 79 20 61 6e 6f 'll just buy ano
16600 74 68 65 72 20 6f 6e 65 21 20 20 43 68 69 6c 6c ther one! Chill
16610 20 74 68 65 20 66 75 63 6b 20 6f 75 74 2e 22 0a the fuck out.".
16620 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 6c 6f 77 65 72 65 64 20 68 .Alley lowered h
16630 65 72 20 68 61 6e 64 20 61 6e 64 20 74 75 72 6e er hand and turn
16640 65 64 20 68 65 72 20 68 65 61 64 20 74 6f 20 6c ed her head to l
16650 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 70 61 72 6b 65 ook at the parke
16660 64 20 73 65 64 61 6e 2e 0a 0a 43 61 72 6d 65 6e d sedan...Carmen
16670 20 67 72 61 62 62 65 64 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 27 73 grabbed Alley's
16680 20 77 72 69 73 74 20 61 6e 64 20 70 72 65 73 73 wrist and press
16690 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 63 6f 6c 6c 61 70 73 69 6e ed the collapsin
166a0 67 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 65 72 g baton into her
166b0 20 68 61 6e 64 2e 20 20 22 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 6c hand. "Don't l
166c0 6f 6f 6b 20 61 74 20 69 74 2e 20 20 4a 75 73 74 ook at it. Just
166d0 20 70 75 74 20 69 74 20 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 put it in your
166e0 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2e 20 20 44 6f 6e 27 74 20 6d pocket. Don't m
166f0 61 6b 65 20 43 6c 69 66 66 20 6e 65 72 76 6f 75 ake Cliff nervou
16700 73 20 62 79 20 73 74 61 6e 64 69 6e 67 20 68 65 s by standing he
16710 72 65 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 20 77 65 61 70 6f 6e re with a weapon
16720 20 69 6e 20 79 6f 75 72 20 68 61 6e 64 2c 20 65 in your hand, e
16730 76 65 6e 20 69 66 20 69 74 27 73 20 6f 6e 65 20 ven if it's one
16740 49 20 67 61 76 65 20 79 6f 75 2e 22 0a 0a 22 55 I gave you.".."U
16750 68 2c 20 79 65 61 68 2c 22 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 h, yeah," Alley
16760 73 61 69 64 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 75 63 6b 65 64 said, and tucked
16770 20 69 74 20 69 6e 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 62 61 63 it into her bac
16780 6b 20 70 6f 63 6b 65 74 2e 20 20 22 54 68 61 6e k pocket. "Than
16790 6b 73 2e 22 20 20 53 68 65 20 73 68 6f 77 65 64 ks." She showed
167a0 20 68 65 72 20 65 6d 70 74 79 20 68 61 6e 64 73 her empty hands
167b0 20 74 6f 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 2c 20 77 68 65 72 to Carmen, wher
167c0 65 20 74 68 65 20 70 65 72 73 6f 6e 20 69 6e 20 e the person in
167d0 74 68 65 20 41 75 64 69 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 73 the Audi could s
167e0 65 65 20 74 68 65 6d 20 61 73 20 77 65 6c 6c 2c ee them as well,
167f0 20 6a 75 73 74 20 74 6f 20 62 65 20 61 73 20 68 just to be as h
16800 61 72 6d 6c 65 73 73 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 69 6e 67 20 armless looking
16810 61 73 20 73 68 65 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 6d 61 6e as she could man
16820 61 67 65 2e 0a 0a 22 59 65 61 68 2c 20 77 65 6c age..."Yeah, wel
16830 6c 2c 20 75 73 20 67 69 72 6c 73 20 67 6f 74 74 l, us girls gott
16840 61 20 73 74 69 63 6b 20 74 6f 67 65 74 68 65 72 a stick together
16850 2e 20 20 52 69 67 68 74 3f 22 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 . Right?"..Alle
16860 79 20 6e 6f 64 64 65 64 2e 0a 0a 22 47 6f 6f 64 y nodded..."Good
16870 2e 20 20 4c 65 74 27 73 20 66 69 6e 69 73 68 20 . Let's finish
16880 74 68 65 20 64 65 61 6c 2e 20 20 54 68 65 6e 2c the deal. Then,
16890 20 67 65 74 20 69 6e 20 74 6f 75 63 68 20 73 6f get in touch so
168a0 6d 65 20 74 69 6d 65 20 69 66 20 79 6f 75 20 74 me time if you t
168b0 68 69 6e 6b 20 79 6f 75 20 6d 69 67 68 74 20 77 hink you might w
168c0 61 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 64 6f 20 74 68 69 73 20 6b ant to do this k
168d0 69 6e 64 20 6f 66 20 77 6f 72 6b 2c 20 74 6f 6f ind of work, too
168e0 2e 20 20 57 65 27 72 65 20 67 65 74 74 69 6e 67 . We're getting
168f0 20 61 20 6c 6f 74 20 6f 66 20 62 75 73 69 6e 65 a lot of busine
16900 73 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 63 6f 75 6c 64 20 75 73 ss, and could us
16910 65 20 74 68 65 20 68 65 6c 70 2e 20 20 59 6f 75 e the help. You
16920 27 72 65 20 70 72 6f 62 61 62 6c 79 20 70 72 65 're probably pre
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16940 74 20 74 68 65 20 75 70 73 65 6c 6c 73 2c 20 65 t the upsells, e
16950 61 73 79 2c 20 74 68 6f 75 67 68 20 49 20 64 6f asy, though I do
16960 6e 27 74 20 6b 6e 6f 77 20 68 6f 77 20 79 6f 75 n't know how you
16970 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 20 62 65 68 69 6e 64 20 74 68 65 look behind the
16980 20 6d 61 73 6b 2e 22 0a 0a 22 49 27 6c 6c 20 6b mask.".."I'll k
16990 65 65 70 20 74 68 61 74 20 69 6e 20 6d 69 6e 64 eep that in mind
169a0 2e 22 0a 0a 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 67 72 61 62 62 ."..Carmen grabb
169b0 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 61 77 73 74 72 69 6e ed the drawstrin
169c0 67 20 62 61 67 2e 20 20 22 48 65 72 65 27 73 20 g bag. "Here's
169d0 77 68 61 74 20 79 6f 75 27 72 65 20 62 75 79 69 what you're buyi
169e0 6e 67 2e 22 0a 0a 2d 2d 2d 0a 0a 41 74 20 68 6f ng."..---..At ho
169f0 6d 65 2c 20 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 66 6f 75 6e 64 20 me, Alley found
16a00 61 20 62 6f 78 20 6f 66 20 64 69 73 70 6f 73 61 a box of disposa
16a10 62 6c 65 20 6e 69 74 72 69 6c 65 20 67 6c 6f 76 ble nitrile glov
16a20 65 73 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 77 6f 72 65 20 61 20 70 es, and wore a p
16a30 61 69 72 20 77 68 65 6e 20 73 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f air when she loo
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16a50 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 68 61 6e 64 67 75 6e 20 at the handgun
16a60 66 72 61 6d 65 73 20 73 68 65 20 62 6f 75 67 68 frames she bough
16a70 74 2e 20 20 41 66 74 65 72 20 67 6f 69 6e 67 20 t. After going
16a80 6f 76 65 72 20 74 68 65 6d 20 66 6f 72 20 61 20 over them for a
16a90 66 65 77 20 6d 69 6e 75 74 65 73 2c 20 73 68 65 few minutes, she
16aa0 20 70 75 74 20 74 68 65 6d 20 62 61 63 6b 20 69 put them back i
16ab0 6e 20 74 68 65 20 64 72 61 77 73 74 72 69 6e 67 n the drawstring
16ac0 20 62 61 67 2e 20 20 53 68 65 20 70 75 6c 6c 65 bag. She pulle
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16af0 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 69 6e 67 2e 0a 0a 53 68 65 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 ing...She looked
16b50 20 69 74 20 6f 76 65 72 20 61 6e 64 20 64 65 63 it over and dec
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16ba0 20 77 68 69 63 68 20 65 6e 64 20 77 61 73 20 77 which end was w
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16c90 20 74 6f 77 61 72 64 20 74 68 65 20 66 6c 6f 6f toward the floo
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16cb0 73 69 6e 67 20 62 6f 74 68 20 68 61 6e 64 73 20 sing both hands
16cc0 74 6f 20 68 6f 6c 64 20 69 74 20 69 6e 20 66 72 to hold it in fr
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16ce0 74 68 65 20 6f 74 68 65 72 20 65 6e 64 20 70 6f the other end po
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16d00 20 63 65 69 6c 69 6e 67 20 74 6f 20 68 65 72 20 ceiling to her
16d10 72 69 67 68 74 2e 0a 0a 41 6c 6c 65 79 20 70 72 right...Alley pr
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16d40 20 43 61 72 6d 65 6e 20 68 61 64 20 69 6e 73 74 Carmen had inst
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16d60 75 6c 6c 20 73 6e 61 70 20 73 6f 75 6e 64 65 64 ull snap sounded
16d70 2c 20 61 6e 64 20 74 68 65 20 64 65 76 69 63 65 , and the device
16d80 20 6e 65 61 72 6c 79 20 6a 75 6d 70 65 64 20 6f nearly jumped o
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16da0 20 49 74 20 68 61 64 20 64 65 66 69 6e 69 74 65 It had definite
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16dc0 73 74 61 6e 74 20 66 72 6f 6d 20 73 6f 6d 65 74 stant from somet
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16de0 20 61 20 77 68 69 74 65 62 6f 61 72 64 20 6d 61 a whiteboard ma
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16e00 6d 65 74 61 6c 20 62 61 74 6f 6e 20 61 62 6f 75 metal baton abou
16e10 74 20 74 77 6f 20 74 68 69 72 64 73 20 6f 66 20 t two thirds of
16e20 61 20 6d 65 74 65 72 20 6c 6f 6e 67 2e 20 20 53 a meter long. S
16e30 68 65 20 68 65 6c 64 20 69 74 20 75 70 20 61 6e he held it up an
16e40 64 20 6c 6f 6f 6b 65 64 20 61 74 20 74 68 65 20 d looked at the
16e50 73 65 61 6d 73 20 62 65 74 77 65 65 6e 20 74 65 seams between te
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16e70 6e 73 2c 20 74 68 65 6e 20 6c 69 67 68 74 6c 79 ns, then lightly
16e80 20 77 68 61 63 6b 65 64 20 74 68 65 20 65 6e 64 whacked the end
16e90 20 6f 6e 20 74 68 65 20 63 61 72 70 65 74 20 6a on the carpet j
16ea0 75 73 74 20 70 61 73 74 20 74 68 65 20 65 64 67 ust past the edg
16eb0 65 20 6f 66 20 74 68 65 20 6b 69 74 63 68 65 6e e of the kitchen
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