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There are reasons I hate to drive fast For one, the Blue Beetle, thethat I putter around in, rattles and groans dangerously at anything above sixtyso ith technology Anything manufactured after about World War II seeet close to it As a rule, when I drive, I drive very carefully and sensibly

Tonight was an exception to the rule

The Beetle&039;s tires screeched in protest as we rounded a corner, clearly against the NO LEFT TURN sign posted there The old car growled gah it sensed as at stake, and continued its valiant puttering,as we zooo any faster?" Michael drawled It wasn&039;t a complaint It was just a question, calets behind us or we start going down a hill," I said "How far to the hospital?"

The big ed his shoulders and shook his head He had that kind of salt-and-pepper hair, dark against silver, that soh his beard was still a solid color of dark brown, alh lines at the corners of his leathery face His broad, lined hands rested on his knees, which were scrunched up due to the dashboard "I don&039;t know for certain," he answered me "Two miles?"

I squinted out the Beetle&039;sat the fading light "The sun is almost down I hope we&039;re not too late"

"We&039;re doing all we can," Michael assured me "If God wills it, we&039;ll be there in time Are you sure of your " his mouth twisted with distaste, "source?"

"Bob is annoying, but rarely wrong," I answered, jae truck "If he said the ghost would be there, it will be there"

"Lord be with us," Michael said, and crossed hiy around hi I&039;ve beento talk to you about"

"Don&039;t ask ain," I told hi to say no" Someone in a red Taurus cut me off, and I had to swerve around hiain A couple of the Beetle&039;s wheels lifted off the ground "Jerk!" I howled out the driver&039;s

"That doesn&039;t preclude asking," Michael asked "But no I wanted to knohen you were going to uez"

"Hell&039;s Bells, Michael," I scowled "You and I have been chasing all over town for the past teeks, going up against every ghost and spirit that has all of a sudden reared its ugly head We still don&039;t knohat&039;s causing the spirit world to go postal"

"I know that, Harry, but - "

"At theafter a nasty old biddy at Cook County, who could kill us if we aren&039;t focused And you&039;re asking me about my love life"

Michael frowned atwith her, aren&039;t you," he said

"Not often enough," I growled, and shifted lanes, swerving around a passenger bus

The knight sighed "Do you love her?" he asked

"Michael," I said "Givequestions like that?"

"Do you love her?" he pressed

"I&039; to drive, here"

"Harry," he asked, sirl or don&039;t you? It isn&039;t a difficult question"

"Speaks the expert," I grumbled I went past a blue-and-white at about twenty miles an hour over the speed limit, and saw the police officer behind the wheel blink and spill his coffee as he saw o past I checked my rearview mirror, and saw the blue bulbs on the police car whirl to life "Daht after us"

"Don&039;t worry about them," Michael assured me "Just answer the question"

I flashed Michael a glance He watched rey eyes flashing His hair was cropped close, Marine-length, on top, but he sported a short, warrior&039;s beard, which he kept clipped close to his face "I suppose so," I said, after a second "Yeah"

"Then you don&039;twhat?" I stalled

"Harry," Michael scolded, holding on as we bounced through a dip in the street "Don&039;t be a child about this If you love the woman, say so"

"Why?" I demanded

"You haven&039;t told her, have you You&039;ve never said it"

I glared at hi deal?"

"Harry Dresden," he said "You, of all people, should know the power of words"