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Prologue

"GOT ANOTHER CSI QUESTION FOR YOU," GLORIA SAID AS Simon walked into the communication hub with an armload of papers "If you're not busy"

"Perfect ti," Simon said "I' a chair to Gloria's workstation, then hesitated "Can I get you so?"

Gloria smiled and shook her head Si careful not to block her view of the digital-display city map on the side wall That's what Gloria loved about shauy, you get a shaet a half-demon

Her shift partner, Erin, hated it when Gloria said that Racial discrimination, she called it Of course Gloria didn't really believe every half-demon was a jerk--she was a half-de so to Erin Night shift in the co like a good political correctness debate to liven things up

Gloria pushed her chair back, one eye still on herCSI last week, and they trick this guy into giving them DNA Then, like five minutes later, they tell him it's a match Can you really analyze DNA that fast?"

"Can they? Or can we?" Simon said "For a municipal crih, there's no political wrangling about overtiets and case precedence We can't analyze a DNA specimen in five minutes, but--"

Gloria's headset beeped twice: an incoer to Si around Even before the call connected, data began flashing on her colanced over her shoulder to see the map of Miami replaced by another city: Atlanta

Gloria reached for the button to page Erin back fro Erin's headset to put it on

The line clicked

"Cortez eency services," Gloria said

A fearbled with panic "--help--park--man--"

Gloria soothed the caller with reassurances that help was on its way She could barely make out a word the caller said, but it didn't matter The computers had already pinpointed the location, a pay phone in an Atlanta park The Cabal had an office in Atlanta, which ency crew there, and the computer automatically dispatched thein Gloria's only job was to keep the caller calm until the team arrived

"Can you tell me your name, honey?"

"D--na M--ur"

Sobs punctuated the words, rendering thelanced at herto ainst the roster of Cabal employees and employee families A list of several dozen nae estimate, and the call location It came back with a list of five nauess