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Here is the thing the Gray Man knew about gas stations after dark: They were the best and worst place in the world to kill soht show, the Gray Man ell nigh invincible Even if there were no other cars getting gas, he had two different ca those caency button Only the as puht

The Gray Man’s brother would not get caught He was dangerous not because he was reckless, but because of the opposite

And the treasure hunters -- they probably were not killers at all Just specialized thugs with a skill for breaking and entering and enough tact to not break soh, the Gray Man’s brother didn’t even pull close to the pumps but instead pulled into the darkness beside a trash bin to wait

The other car hesitated as well, but the Gray Man rolled down hisand waved them over After a pause, they pulled up the other direction, driver’sto driver’s

They were just a pair of young roughs, both looking tired and frustrated The one in the passenger seat held a bank of devices on his lap The Gray Man glimpsed a sea of candy wrappers and soda bottles, a blanket balled in the backseat So they’d been living out of this car for at least a few days The Gray Man didn’t really begrudge the his rooms back at the bed and breakfast Probably hoould’ve done it, before he knew any better Well, probably not But still, they weren’t as bad as the two he’d left in the woods

This is why you’re the best, Greenmantle had said

It was true The Gray Man really was the best

It was quite clear they hadn’t expected the Gray Man to stop, and if they had, they hadn’t expected hi, Silly boy, you self-destroyer!

"Good evening," the Gray Man said pleasantly The station smelled like very old fried food

"Hey, man," said the driver, an uneasy cast to his voice "I see you’re following me," the Gray Man said

"Hey, ently held up a hand "Let’s not waste ti for I lied to s were because of the object so he’d keep paying for my room and board while I looked for it And then I told hiet more cash out of him Which didn’t work, as you can tell"

They stared at him, too bewildered at first to immediately reply

"Hey, er scrubbed a hand over his face and then pensively thuto us?"

"For what purpose?" the Gray Man asked He gestured toward the Mitsubishi "Let’s be honest I could easily lose you guys in this"

He thought, anyway Probably It looked fast

The two of theh, because they both frowned

"Look, I’ out of professional courtesy," the Gray Man added "I can see you guys haven’t been in this business as long as I have, but I’d hope you’d do the same for someone else in my position" He wanted to tell theer Too guilty They’d think he’d duer seat said, "What about the readings?"

"I told you I lied about the readings because I knew I could get aith it for a while They’re only from the fault line You can drive up and down the mountains if you want to see for yourself Follows them pretty perfectly"

They wanted so badly to believe him He could see it in their bloodshot eyes, their flattened lips They’d been sent in pursuit of a ghost, and not many besides the Gray Man had the patience for that They wanted to be done, to go after more concrete spoils

"But what do we tell our man?"

"Hey, what do I know?" the Gray Man asked "I’m the one who’s on the run ’cause uy froer seat There was a pause, and then he added, "I’ve got to piss"

The Gray Man had won

"Here Put my number in your phone," the Gray Man said "We can keep in touch"

They exchanged nuer Seat went into the station to pee Driver said, "Well, hell Do you have a cigarette?"

The Gray Man soo" He had never smoked

Driver jerked his chin back tohere the Gray Man’s brother waited in the shadows Rain streaked through the pale beaey Guy, you uess I’ll have to talk to him out of the cameras"

The driver looked up sharply to where the Gray Man pointed "Oh, ht of them"

The Gray Man tapped the end of his nose He said, "That’s a tip Okay, let’s stay in touch"

"Yeah," the driver said "Oh, hey --"

The Gray Man stopped rolling up theHe tried not to hold his breath "Yeah?"

The driver cracked a grin "I like the license plate"

It took the Gray Man a moment to remember what it was

"Thanks," he said "I like to tell the truth when I can"