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Max had his hand out to catch her even as the M-Psy re shakily on her feet, she took a deep, deep breathand let the beat of the city flow around her "I’h she kneasn’t as simple as that The J Corps wouldn’t release her, not now that she was useful again But--"And I’ll fight to keep my freedom" No led joy and determination, and she heard the words he didn’t say, even as the M-Psy spoke "You should sit back down, Ms Russo"

Since her legs felt a little unsteady, she didn’t argue "Do you have any idea why enerated?"

The M-Psy shook his head "That’s why I want to keep you here longer--shields as badly dah all our archives without finding another case I’ain as quickly--"

"In that case," Sophia said, looking back out over the city, "I’d rather use this tiet a second chance"

The M-Psy glanced at his chart "I can only release you if you’ll have someone with you at all tis could rebound, trigger a blackout"

"I’ll make sure she’s never alone," Max said, his tone in her out"

Ten er seat of Max’s car, being driven back to the apartment "I’ve lit a fire under security," he said, his jaw set in a gri cleared byday, but I really want to tell you sohtened on the wheel "You’re always in a rush, aren’t you, sweetheart?"

With Max, yes, she thought, she was both ireedy "I love the way you smell"

A startled look "That’s what you wanted to tell ave in to the slu at her ever since they entered the vehicle

She had no awareness of reaching the apart carried up to her bedroom and laid down in bed Nor did she feel the kiss pressed to her forehead or hear the low, shaken whispers of a

Max sat on Sophia’s sofa, able to think about Nikita’s case for the first tihtmare of the abduction After what Nikita had done to save Sophia, he owed the Councilor far ated by his position as an Enforceh Nikita had been in touch with him on and off over the past day, he’d withheld the infor--gut instinct said the boy was no killer and he’d probably splinter under Nikita’s version of a "chat" At ht lead thepin

But Max had told Nikita about Quentin Gareth, warned her to watch her back until they could determine where the prematurely silver-haired man had been for those unaccounted-for months in his past

"Quentin’s in Jordan for business," Nikita had told him "He won’t be back for three more days, so we have tiun deep-level PsyNet scans in relation to this issue"

Wondering if she’d had any luck, he picked up his cell phone and put through a call However, the office comm line, her private line, the cell, they all went to voice in his hand Glancing at it, he raised an eyebrow "Ryan"

"Detective Shannon, as you kept our previous discussion confidential," the intern said without any lead in, "I feel I can trust you with this"

Max waited

"I was approached by an individual associated with Pure Psy afterlast year--they believed I would be open to their e"

"Good way to pick up recruits" Ryan had killed when his poent out of control, would’ve been--on soht again

"Yes" Ryan paused "At first, I went along, but I soon realized oals didn’t n ot the internship with Councilor Duncan"

"You’re spying for her?"

"Not officially She doesn’t know" A long breath "I wanted to bring her so that would make her more inclined to keep me on after this internship ends"

Either the boy was honestly pinning his hopes of survival on Nikita, or he was a very good liar "What did you find out?"