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We’d been living in Tuscaloosa a few months People knee were, but they didn’t bother us, except to offer work Kelly’s dad did just that He had no proof except a father’s surety and a gas station clerk’s description of a wo into Mann’s car But he had a bloody scarf, and that would tell us everything we needed to know

In the end, that stained scrap of cloth led us right to Mann’s lair, a condeirls

I hadn’t wanted the job Thought it would be too dangerous, based off Mann’s lengthy rap sheet He’d done time before, arson and assault, and if he went down a third tiet about parole But Chance talkedof the end

"I wanted to help people, but not if itfor you, and you walked away thinking I saw you as nothing but a" He paused "A show pony Isn’t that what you said?"

Hoished I could believe hi for ain?"

I hadn’t realized until this moment how much that hurt I spent halfChance to show up de an explanation By the time I reached Mexico City, I realized he never would

"You almost died because of ht did I have to keep you if you wanted to go?"

"Is it a question of rights?" I clenched e to yell "You could’ve said so suit"

His voice cauish "Maybe I felt like I deserved to lose you"

I exhaled unsteadily as I realized we’d turned into the parking lot at the station For a moment I let myself look at hi hi about his heal crooked The pieces didn’t fit any what they deserve That implies the world is fair and it never has been You o If you did it to punish yourself, then take off your crown of thorns What’s done is done, and I don’t blaether, we still would be" I opened the car door and got out "Let’s go see Officer Saldana"

Expect the Unexpected

Jesse was on the phone e caain, uy was nowhere in sight I fought the urge to collect the trash and dispose of it on principle I’ food decompose outside of a compost heap To amuse myself I counted fast food wrappers and dirty cups

He er "Yes, it’s chicken blood in the warehouse" I already knew that "Did you contact--Oh, right Yes, sir I’ll try to keep the press fro in town, but I really don’t have any--Yes, I agree The last thing we need is religious zealots picketing the parking lot I’ around"

I wasn’t so sure about that, but I didn’t think his captain would appreciate any of my theories Plus, apart from Jesse, I did my best to avoid law enforceic to the aroundOnce they stoppedtoo slow

After hanging up, Saldana sighed "I have a feeling this is going to get worse before it gets better" As he produced the purse, he added, "Glad you guys are on tie"

I expected there to be so Bracing myself, I picked up the purse, but topain I opened it, checked inside Whenthe strap to the handbag, I received a sot when I touched Saldana

Somehow inside the current, I heard a breathy whisper that sounded as if it ht be Yi Min-chin: "The zona"

And that was all

They regarded uessed the show turned out to be so of a letdown "You can take it back I’ht before, Jesse looked at ers and then the pals just don’t hold a charge Metal has the best resonance for capturing and keeping ies Textiles fade , vinyl disguised as leather I didn’t knohether she’d done this on purpose or if this qualified as a failure on my part It had never worked like this before

"Have either of you ever been to the zona?" I asked

Chance looked blank but Saldana arched a brow "Are you looking for a prostitute?"

I thought of Señor Alvarez, running ? Would he withhold sales? "I doubt I can afford one"

"What’s the zona?" Chance asked

"People in the States usually call it Boys Town It’s a walled co to party and buy whores It’s legal there," Jesse added, evidently seeing Chance’s confusion