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Will looked up at last "What do you want me to say?"

Malloy see out an extended soliloquy of a sigh "Nothing," he said at last "I don’t know, and I don’t want to know, Fitz I’d like to collectto tell you what happened As far as the city’s concerned, the Pentacle Killer was shot and killed and burned in the fire, no identity known He was killed by one of our ood ood Heroes ht That’s the story You understand?"

"You think people will believe it?"

"People will believe anything if it o on with their lives and not have to think too hard about it" Malloy rose and opened the door "You’re free to go"

At the door, he put a hand on Will’s ar?"

"Get some rest, Terrence"

"Don’t make an enemy of me, Will," Malloy called after him

Will walked the labyrinthine halls of the police station He passed a ed room with half-drawn blinds where twoto speak with the chief Both men sat calmly, quietly, as if they had no reason to hurry As if they were accusto would prove no different

Will paled and hurried past, pushing through the doors of the station into the gray-wool haze ofHe tossed two cents at a newspaperman and read the day’s late headline about the death of the Pentacle Killer, which featured a posed photograph of Officer Lyga standing beside the A above the caption HERO OFFICER KEEPS CITY SAFE They had worked fast There was no mention of Will or the museum Will left the newspaper on a nearby bench and shoved his hands deep into his pants pockets to hide their shaking

Memphis waited until Octavia was fast asleep, then shut the door to the bedroom where Isaiah slept and crept to his side He stared at his hands It had been three years since Memphis had tried to cure hisof wings Maybe he’d lost the healing gift forever But he was tired of being too scared to find out

Me, but ould he pray for? Was he asking for God’s help, or his forgiveness? He wasn’t sure he believed in either, so he said nothing as he placed his hands on his brother’s body and thought about the healing As Me No trace of warmth No smell of flowers before he was transported into the world of spirits and strange sights

"I’h clenched teeth "Do you hear ive up!"

Meers Then the old fah his veins like a tap suddenly turned on And before he had time to think, he was sucked into that shadow realm betorlds Around hiently on his shoulders, his ar He heard his mother’s voice, soft and low