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Wordlessly, Katarina returned to the Hummer and climbed in

"Can I have a cow?" Dale asked

"No"

"Shit," Dale sighed, but obeyed Nerit He cli blood one bit

Curtispolice officer was tense

When he slid into the other SUV, he hunched down and looked away from Katarina

Nerit slammed the door shut and backed the truck up slowly

"She did what I would have done," Dale repeated

"I know," Nerit said

"It’s not fair that doing soet others killed or kidnapped," Dale said gruffly

"Yes, but life is not fair"

"So the fucking military is out there, huh?"

"Yes," Nerit answered, following the Huhtly

"Great Fucking great And who do you think controls theed her shoulders "People of power"

"Daot ate"

3 Only Questions

Katie ran across the lobby avoiding soo spots Her blond curls were pulled up into a ponytail and she was clad in one of Travis’ shirts Her swelling belly was beginning to pop out the bottoh she felt sheepish to adainst her stomach as she ran, almost as if she could protect the baby from whatever news had returned with Nerit and the others

Travis had never returned to bed and she had woken up groggy and disoriented She had called down to the front desk to find Peggy gru her nuts It was then she found out the two groups Travis had sent out earlier were in route to the fort After changing her clothes, she had rushed downstairs

Catching sight of Nerit talking with Travis, she knew instantly the neas not good Travis’ expression was griaze fierce

"What happened?" Katie asked as she reached them, her voice raw She feared the worst and the tension in her face clearly revealed that

"We found the truck and they weren’t in it," Nerit answered simply

Katie blinked at the bluntness of that statement "Were theywas there"

"They were taken," Nerit answered "Apparently by the military At least Jenni and one other h"

"So we lost two people at the hospital," Katie said softly

Travis nodded, his rim line

"And the military is out there," Katie continued

"That is likely," Nerit answered

"Hoe know they have Jenni, but we’re not sure about which of the guys they took?" Travis asked

"Jenni was injured by a piece of surgical equip quickly what she had observed "I gave the surgical equipment to Charlotte already so she can try to save Juan"

Katie felt a little dizzy at the thought of Jenni being hurt, then carted off by soainst Travis for cohtly, his lips briefly brushing over her forehead

Ed and Linda walked toward therim and Katie wondered if they were the ones that checked on Blanche

"What did you find?" Travis looked nervous

"A Mercedes packed to the gills with supplies on the side of the road Ray busted the axle trying to off road it Maybe he was trying to avoid being seen by Curtis and Katarina yesterday," Ed answered

"And what looked like maybe the remains of Ray on the doorstep of the mansion Gunshot wound to as left of his head" Linda shivered

"There were a few zo around still Front door was open

Zoo in"