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Someone in a front seat twisted around to face us Foster I hadn’t noticed the do off his bald head "Don’t tell oddanored his partner’s remark "Yes, the interior is fully lit," he said to me "But we’re required to travel this way--even Foster and me The detention center is in a secret location Only a few people, at the very highest levels of security clearance, knohere it is"

"And we’ll never riped "Not that I’d care if we left you behind I still think it’s a lousy idea, hiring one of your kind"

At that, I climbed into the van "And what kind would that be, Foster? Shapeshifter? Woman? Or the kind who could save your ass in a deed "Now that I look at it that way, ht Maybe I should stay ho out there as deht was annoying this bigoted detective, it’d be a good night’s work

Daniel grinned like he was thinking the exact sa as he climbed in behind me As soon as the door shut, Foster picked up a phone and spoke to the driver, who peeled away fast I lurched sideways into a seat, and Daniel grabbed the seat beside it Foster sht, buckling , and whatever happened there, it was going to be one hell of a long night

6

I WAS RIGHT ABOUT IT BEING A LONG NIGHT BY THE TIME we reached our destination, I’d already suffered through what felt like several lifeti coe so to get a hard ti for weapons He was checking for a cell phone or other GPS device that could transot the same treatment because he’d left the "secure area"--I assumed that meant the back of the van--at the checkpoint Foster stayed inside, radiating his pleasure at our humiliation

Once we got underway again, Foster’s presence stifled any attempts at conversation Every possible topic seemed off the table We couldn’t talk about our personal lives, because Foster’s ears would be wide open for any irlfriend--a TV reporter--was barely a step above paranormals in Foster’s worldview Family, work life, the unrest in Deadtown, even the case ere investigating, it all felt likenasty in his report to Coet any in-flight entertain at the screen at the front of our co; I assumed the screen was a computer monitor for police business

"Good idea," Foster said and reached for a control

Daniel groaned as a video game loaded "He does this every tiaun, by boe you could inflict on a body was directed at staggering, oozing, decaying ghouls-frorave Men, women, even zombie kids were obliterated as Foster worked the controls He whooped as he decapitated an undead toddler clutching a ragged teddy bear

"Ignore him," Daniel advised "I’ve learned to pick my battles"

I didn’t want to cause Daniel any proble the controller out of Foster’s hands and breaking it over his bald head, I leaned back and closed my eyes I pictured Foster in Deadtown, surrounded by zoh at his puny un I smiled CODE RED? KILL IT DEAD! wouldacross Foster’s forehead

THE PARANORMAL DETENTION FACILITY WAS UNDERGROUND Or at least that was h the place Like the van there were no s anywhere Harsh fluorescent lights glared down fro on tiled floors and cinder-block walls Daniel walked beside h a labyrinth of corridors We made so many turns I could’ve sere back where we started e came to a ," Daniel said

"You really think witnesses, who didn’t colanced at Foster, atched him closely "No, I don’t," he said "But I don’t make the rules" His words reminded me of what Pam McFarren had said earlier The rules weren’t perfect, but unless they crossed a line you couldn’t pick and choose

A buzzer sounded, and a light by the door lit up Gears turned and clanked The heavy door slid open

We stepped into a corridor lined with metal doors on both sides Each door had a sround, shuttered by a gray

The silence felt as heavy as the door that sealed us in

"Let’s get this over with," said Foster He went to the guard station, where two norlass "We’re here to do some interviews," he said into an intercom He paused, then turned to Daniel "Which one you want to start with?" he asked

"Andrew Skibinsky"

"We’ll start with nuuards stood up Aus down the hallway He stopped in front of a door with 721 stenciled on its surface and slid open the ot company"

He opened the door Daniel went inside Over his shoulder I could see a narrow cell, six by ten at most A toilet and sink occupied one corner A cot was bolted to the side wall There was no other furniture

Skibinsky didn’t react to our entry He sat on the cot, one leg resting across the other, exa row of black stitches wound its way crookedly up his leg