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She ate four handfuls of it, then forced herself to stop Riley took an extra There wasn’t much left in the tube

Bryn wiped herat them The expression on his face wiped out to impartiality, but there was no doubt that he’d found what he’d just seen disturbing, at the very least

"Sorry," she said, and sed the taste of iron and th"

"Copy that," he said, and put the truck in gear without another word

The elation theDespite that, Bryn felt sad and disoriented, and realized that it wasn’t so iven up hope that she’d come out of this in any way normal--but for the world around her that had no idea it was on the verge of change Because change it would; it wouldn’t have a choice Whatever happened, even if they miraculously stopped the Fountain Group dead in its tracks, word about Returné would begin to creep out People would seek it out of desperation and pain and anguish And soing to life into a drug-addicted plague

She blinked as Joe steered the truck to a stop, and looked around "We’re here," he said, and nodded ahead "See that building? That’s the address Call h-dollar establishuys"

It was a clinic A free clinic, one of those charity operations that served the down and out and disenfranchised Bryn felt a sudden sweep of chill, as she thought about the sick, old people who’d been used so cruelly at their supposedly safe memory care unit by the Fountain Group "They like to pick off the weak," she said "Use theht find attractive"

"Orforward "Call Pansy"

Bryn dialed the burner phone, and it rang three ti breathless "If you’re calling to offer ood tiht?"

"That all depends on your definitions," Pansy said "Manny’s coood Your sister is bored out of her skull, which is bad Lia meals out of our food stores, and did you know he could cook? I think we ht keep him Oh, and we’re co us out"

Bryn took in a sharp breath and looked at Joe "Are you going to be all right?"

"Sure Nothing we can’t handle," Pansy said "Not if you can do your job and get this thing resolved within the next week, anyway That’s about how long it’ll take them to break in, we think What do you need?"

"We’ve reached the address you sent us to What are we looking for?"

"All I was able to get was a last naler He, or she, was specifically named in Fountain Group comm that we decrypted But I don’t knohat role this person plays, only that he seehly involved" There was a shout on Pansy’s end of the phone, and her sunny tone grew brisk "Okay, Manny’s calling, gotta run Good luck, Bryn"

"You too," she said, but Pansy was already gone Bryn shook her head, folded the phone, and relayed the infor allies

"Well," Riley said, "I’o collect intel My new look fits in"

She was right; the punk esthetic she’d put on would probably blend better than either Joe or Bryn could "Keep your phone on," Joe said "We’ll be fifteen seconds away"

Riley nodded, concealed the handgun under her shirt at the back of her pants, and bailed out of the van She walked the short block, hands in the pockets of her jacket and head doith sloandering steps

If Bryn hadn’t knoho she was, she’d have ood," she said

"Surprised?"

"A little"

"By the time she reaches the door, she’ll already have a backstory worked out for her character, and she’ll have some specific medical problem that fits in hat they normally see"

"But she won’t be sick"

"Doesn’tinto these places aren’t, they just want drugs It’s pretty , and she put it on the console between them and pressed the speaker button "Riley, you’re on, we’re here"