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"The woman you asked about back in Apollo’s church"

He nodded "Geraki said she was returning to someplace where people still believed These annexed borderlands are hotbeds of religion Even after SCI sweeps therew up here, and even though I couldn’t find anything on her, sooing to set up a low-profile cult, I’d come here"

"And Nadia can help us?"

"Maybe I’ her associate--Callista She’s the one that’ll help us"

Mae had a hard ti to help him "Are you sure?"

"Very sure"

They stepped inside, out of the heat, finding no air-conditioning in the ens Mae had had a childhood fantasy of getting a tattoo but was pretty sure she wanted no part of this place’s unhygienic practices

"Can I help you?" A tall, lanky plebeianto the back of the shop Justin stepped forward

"Yes, I’m--"

"Justin March" Thelook "I remember I was there when you visited"

Justin forced a sain I’ to find Nadia"

"Nadia? My cousin? You already disbanded her church"

"That’s not why I’m here Do you know if she’s in Mazatlán? I just need to speak to her"

Mae approached, her wariness triggering the ie He was nervous

"Yes…yes, of course I just need to get ahold of her" The ed a s but also confused

The h "Let me call my brother and see what he knows It’ll just be awhile you wait? A chair? So to drink?"

"We’re fine"

The h the door, which he left ajar, and Mae heard his one-sided conversation in Spanish The only words she picked out were "Nadia" and "Justin March"

"So’s weird," she said "He’s too uneasy"

"Yes," Justin agreed "But he knohat I am These people are more afraid of federal visits than castals are"

The tattooist returned, his ser and oing to bring her over"

"Excellent," said Justin "Thank you"

Justin and Mae milled around the storefront, which saw no customers, for about ten minutes Then they heard a door open in the back and a low conversation Their host appeared and beckoned theht this way"

The back room looked like any messy workshop type of area Assorted tools and outdated readers littered the tables and benches, and a large, wicked-lookingpallet where the tattooing ested the tattooist lived here

Mae knew i, because instead of a wo for them--three arly that he cried out in surprise Her gun was out before he hit the floor, and she unflinchingly shot one of the attackers in the arround also, and another joined him after Mae disarun She was on to the one who’d tried to elude her when she heard a voice behind her say, "Easy there Drop your gun, or Dr March’s career ends"