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"You’re my ride," I reivevoice "I’ain, I couldn’t help it At least it was only a little hysterical this tiave me an uncertain look "It’s okay," I said to hi Lee up on his offer, I touched base with Chief Bryant He looked as tired as I felt, the streetlights above the intersection throwing the dark pouches under his eyes into stark relief "Daisy"

"Sir"

"I should have listened to you and Cody" He smiled wryly "I’m sorry I didn’t"

"You had your reasons, sir," I said "I ht And I appreciate your enlisting the help of the eldritch" The chief paused a moment to rub his chin "I, um, don’t suppose you want to tell iant snake creature was?"

"She’s, um, a lamia Or the lamia" I wasn’t entirely sure if Lurine had peers, and it had always seemed impolite to ask "OtherwiseI’m sorry, but no"

"Never ood job, Daisy Go hoet some rest"

"Thanks"

It didn’t feel like well-earned praise, but I didn’t tell hiht, or about theafter the Tall Man’s remains vanished Maybe that was a cop-out, or s the chief didn’t need to know Either way, I was just too tired

In the intersection, Cody and Ken Levitt had donned latex gloves and were carefully shifting the Tall Man’s bones onto a tarp

Cody glanced up as I passed, his expression a coret and affection He lifted one latex-covered hand to give hostbusting forays "Later, partner"

I returned the salute, pretty sure avewas ht, which she’d already heard fro Lee insisted on escorting me up the stairs to my apartwai could coo, and the place was as cold as a meat locker now that an autumn chill had replaced the unnatural bal around my ankles as I closed the door and turned up the therht, Daisy?" Lee hovered uncertainly "No offense, but you look like shit"

"Thanks," I said "I’ll be okay"

He frowned "What happened to you out there?"

"I’ll explain later" I yawned, the kind of huge, gaping yawn that feels like your jaws ht? "Now that this is over, I need to talk to you anyway"

"About what?"

"Using the Internet to find a guy," I said wearily "A ram, the intersection of ‘Internet’ and ‘mysterious’ is where I live"

I blinked at hiently "We’ll talk about it later You’re sure you’re okay?"

"I’ Lee or anyone else could do about it I’d acted without thinking and I’d learned the hard way that it was dangerous to trifle with death ic I’d used up all s, as surely as Cooper’s victims Except at least I was still myselfjust a very, very tired version of myself "Go ho"

"I will Oh, and, Lee?" I added as he turned to go "You should ask Jen out on a date I’ to consider it"

"Gee, thanks" His tone went flat "I’ain "You know you like her Now get out of here"

After Lee left, I stowed the spirit lantern atop r fro to undress further, assu unconsciousness claim me felt too much like what I’d felt when I was linked to the old obeahmy life force ebb away fro asleep, I aith a jerk, le" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>