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He listened, covered the phone’s speaker, and said, "She says glad you’re still alive, and also, they have another place here in KC Hasn’t used it for years, but it should still be operational" He gave her the address "She says she can unlock it res, but it’ll do in a pinch"

For all his cheerful, casual tone, Joe was deliberately not dropping any names--in case, Bryn assumed, that Calvin Thorpe turned out to be a liability, or sold infor any of theh Manny would alround and salt the earth after they sheltered there As far as levels of trust went, Bryn figured they ell into negative nu the city’s main arteries, but she used the GPS to find side streets; the last thing they needed was to be stuck in traffic, sitting ducks And Manny’s bolt-hole was in--surprise--a decaying industrial area, which s easierat least until they caate

Which was closed

"And?" Bryn asked, but just as she did, a buzzer sounded, and the gate rumbled back on tracks She drove in, and before her back wheels were through the gap, the gap began closing "Is she watching us on satellite?"

"I think it’s safe to say she could nuke us fro From there, she’ll open the elevator for us"

The setup here was much the same as what Bryn had seen before, but smaller--the elevator was more claustrophobic, and when it opened up top, the lab was bare, dusty and pocked with--bullet holes? Soone on here, once There were stains on the concrete thatwas that it was secure

Bryn fired up the lights, and with them came a bank of security monitors, which was handy "Dr Thorpe, come with me," she said "Let’s find you a private roo door She did find one, toward the back; it had the di in it but a cot, toilet, and sink Perfect

Dr Thorpe sank down on the bed and stared at her with grim fury "I’m your prisoner, then?"

"Let’s just say we don’t trust you with scalpels Or anything sharp," she said "Get so for you to eat"

"I’d rather talk to the other one"

"Riley? Not sure she’s up to talking, since you cut her--"

"Theto do with you, or her"

Bryn raised her eyebrows, returned his bitter stare calet a choice, but I’ll do what I can to accommodate yourpreferences" She shut the door, and found that it locked auto lens of a camera pointed down at her, and waved to Pansy

Good to have friends in high places

With him secured, Bryn wandered the place It was a short tour--eiant walk-in pantry with canned food and bottled water, basic e There was a surprisingly lush bed, sofa, and entertainh Joe had already clai so off the blood

"Doc all squared away?" Joe asked, and Bryn nodded "I’uy, Bryn Of course, I’otiations by throat-slashing"

"Maybe he knew she’d heal"

"He didn’t knoould when he came at me with the scalpel," he pointed out "And I don’t like anybody who judges by group, not by individual Which, you’ll notice, he does Watch your back, Bryn He gets half a shot, he’ll put you down"

"If he can"

"Isn’t that e’re keeping hiood point Bryn shook her head and wandered a littlefor a coain, saw another button that did nothing when she pressed it

The speaker came on below the keypad "Bryn?"