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Bryn found the lock release, opened the door, and slithered out to the ground She scraine block, the safest place, as the Lincoln shuddered under the impact of more bullets

She heardfrom the rear of the car, and looked over to see Joe Fideli crouched there as he returned fire There was a screech of tires, and their attacker pulled out after one last burst of bullets that rang and echoed against the concrete

Then the car was gone, speeding for the exit

"Bryn?"

"I’m okay," she said "Are you?"

"Fine" Fideli sounded frustrated as he changed clips on his gun, chaun He took out his phone and dialed "Pat? You got him?" Pat? McCallister? Bryn waited tensely, and Fideli turned away and talked in too low of a voice to be overheard She stood up on shaky legs It finally occurred to her that she hadn’t even drawn her gun Hadn’t fired a single round at the fleeing car Stupid

It see up and came back to her He didn’t look happy

"What happened?" Bryn asked

"We had the exits from the industrial park covered, but he dumped the car at the next lot over He one on foot We don’t knohere he went fro fro on any one of the a lot of questions He could also have gone on foot; it’s an easy run across the park area over there, and there’s a mall on the other side"

"What about the car? Can you trace it?"

"Stolen less than two hours ago fro any chances, even at a supposedly friendlyI think he’s a little paranoid"

"You’re not paranoid if they’re out to get you"

"True," Fideli said, as a dark sedan pulled into the lot, and two Pharot out and walked toward theet you home I’ll see you at work tomorrow Oh, and Bryn?"

"What?"

He smiled and winked at her "Good effort But next time, tell me about your stealthy plans first Not that I wouldn’t be onto them, but it’s nice if we can talk about it"

The next day, Bryn dressed in a practical gray pantsuit with a shell-pink blouse, o out to see the progress at Fairview She took Mr French with her, because hey, as the boss, she could Besides, he loved the car, and sticking his head out theHis doggy joy lightened herlot when she arrived, leaning against the hood of his big truck He nodded to her, and s at her heels "Is it bring-a-friend-to-work day?" he asked

"He’s notsat down next to her, regarding Joe with suspicious dark eyes He growled a little Joe growled back, which seemed to settle the et any sleep at all?"

"Enough Besides, I didn’t want to be late for work," he said

"Any progress on our gun-happy friend froe all over the place, but right now it looks like he’s a ghost And I’ he won’t be back in touch for a while"

That sounded ominous "What … what does that mean for me?"

"I don’t know" At least he was honest about it "For noe just continue with the plan You’ve still got a lead on one of the revived We can work that Pat’s keeping last night’s little fiasco under wraps for now froot to be another angle we can work"

She hoped so, because suddenly it felt like her ti out

Fideli tried to sound positive "Never ht to take care of that about noon My team has cleared the office area for entry, and they tell me they should be finished with the repairs on the prep roorand reopening"

"Maybe we should rent one of those giant inflatable advertising things," she said

"Gorilla?"

"Dracula," she said "With the coffin"