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Reluctantly I explained, though I didn’t need to say h he couldn’t present it as an official explanation "That’s a heavy-duty working" He shook his head as we exited toward San Antonio College

"Tellthat much power to bear, and they don’t coht, though Chuch had alreadyfor so about here? Could it be sent from halfway around the world?"

"I have no idea Rituals aren’t "

No, that’d been ood ten years, not since I gave up all childish dreaht know somebody we can ask while we’re here Not sure if she’ll be in this late, though We’ll see"

"Seriously, why do you care?" The question got loose before I could stop it

His hands tightened on the steering wheel "Don’t ask ive a shit, but I’ot past the kind, patient persona For sohted ht?"

Oh, I was asking for it

"I’m your mentor, Corine That means I’m here to help you" Saldana thumped the dash for emphasis "Maybe you’re not used to this, but I have no hidden agenda I want to help you figure out how to ifted I know sometimes it sucks and you feel like you’re all by yourself I’m here to assure you that you’re not"

"So you’re taking oodness of your heart" I sounded so cynical

"Is that so hard to believe?"

I thought about it "Pretty lared atto sellyou, I helpI can use to close the books on this one I e in the file, but it’s better than an unsolved mystery"

"Got it," I said, satisfied "You’re tying a string tome into the maze You’ll use me to write your report when it’s all said and done"

"Christ You make it sound so sordid"

"I don’t mind People never offer an open hand, and if they do, you should step back to avoid the slap"

Saldana offered me a look that said I’d made the short list of wohter outlook Too bad I liked h the city in silence for a few minutes

"Anyway, it’swasn’t supposed to be there He isn’t a bright guy and he soo Warehouse was closed, no new ship and it ‘smells funny,’ he says"

Blood rituals and deht

"Got a last narinned "No I won’t tell you that Lenny Marloorks for Delta Security, the agency that just terminated a contract with IBC, the co IBC ht have ties to Southern Sanitation as well, so Ithen"

The area where we parked qualified as seedy, a strip on Main full of Goth bars and gay clubs I don’t knohat I expected, but I felt vaguely let down by the faded brick building on the corner Just a sn in violet neon proclaimed TWILIGHT

"In the rest of these clubs," he said as we got out, "you’ll find wannabes and college kids looking for soht as well, but by and large, if you find so out there, they’re the real deal Be extra careful--they get the occasional deive theh if you s

Saldana laughed as alked up to the black s, Corine So, but--and I’, no ood the deal sounds"

"Got it No sellingelse I should know?"

"Yeah," he said "You look good in green"

As I followed hian Chance hated this thing, woven of nubbly yarn in uneven hues He’d never gotten the appeal of hippie chic, but it ith ht it at a thrift store for two bucks otten gest part of my ass while the belt accentuated ht I’d paired it with a pair of elittery jade beads on the toes

"Uh Thanks"

Twilight’s interior boasted a faded carpet, red lights in wall sconces, and ave the place a rough, unfinished look, but the place had a schizophrenic feel--part Texas roadhouse, part dilapidated brothel Even the htly askew I didn’t kno I felt about entering to the tune of "Devil’s Dance Floor" Notnonetheless