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PROLOGUE

Gareth Brody sat in a chipped plastic chair in the prison waiting roouard to call his na a dark look at the guard booth every so often, playing the role of an i attorney

In truth, the cinder block walls and barred doorways left hi artificial and too bright Outdoors, the prison yard was barely thy stretch of concrete, broken only by steel poles supporting basketball nets, all enclosed by chain-link fencing and barbed wire

Silvernuts in here

Gareth would reh

A loud buzz echoed in the s open "Mr Brody? Your client is available now"

Gareth followed the guard through the doorway,how quickly he could disable the h-security facility, and this officer barely looked capable of guarding a box of donuts

Two hallways, four turns, and three locked doors brought the which doors required a slide frouard’s key, and which required a pin code on a pad mounted on the wall

This would almost be too easy Perhaps he could ask Officer Incompetent to leave the key on the table

"Have a seat here," said the guard

Gareth dropped into the plastic chair--which sported a cracked seat--and plopped his briefcase on the table The locks snapped open with a loud click

Usually, he did this without files But today he had several

He and Silver had things to discuss

He pulled a pen out of the briefcase and spun it through his fingers He could eviscerate two people in less than fives Typical Flash a business card and a little hair gel, and they assuun

It was a , honestly

But then the opposite door clicked open, and another guard led Gareth’s client into the rooer Guide had been in his late teens Blond hair, too-dark-to-be-tan skin, slightly slanted eyes all topped off with a British accent and a talent for being ruthless Silver had achieved control of the ele Gareth hiiven assign-, that he’d fail or crumble in the line of duty That he’d abandon his task of killing pure Ele He’d killed withouteach mission without complaint or unnecessary e jumpsuit, wrists and ankles shackled to a chain that trailed froled and scarred, but whatever injury had caused it had left enough wrist to keep him restrained He was thin, too thin, and Gareth al a sandwich

If Silver was surprised to see Gareth, he didn’t let it show He dropped into the chair when the guard gave hi he needed to keep up appearances, at least for a little while longer He half rose fro his tie as he addressed the officers "Thank you, gentleave hi courtly bow on his way out "By all hed

Then the door slalance at the door and kept his voice down "Gareth It’s been a long ti well"

"I wish I could say the sa The chains jin-gled as he ain" He paused "I began to wonder whether they’d send someone"

"Of course" Gareth s in a cell"

"Do we have a plan?"

So very like Silver Right down to business

Gareth opened one of his file folders "We have to keep up appearances, if only for a little while" He tapped his pen against the table "I thought n to help you, I’d rather not go in blind"

Gareth watched the enation over the fact that he was sitting here with barely ed animal Proof of his failure

Gareth waited He would not rub salt in the wound, but he wouldn’t coddle the ritted his teeth "I know there are pure Eleers"

Gareth raised his eyebrows "All proven?"

Silver nodded "All" He paused "We can proceed with eli them immediately"

"I think I’d still like to observe, to be certain"

Silver’s expression tightened He was insulted

Gareth didn’t care He would not destroy children based on hearsay

The Guides had few rules, but this one separated the but power

Observe first Then destroy

Silver cleared his throat "There are nuh few have demonstrated the level of their power yet" He nodded at the papers in front of Gareth "Shohat you have I’ll fill in your blanks"

Gareth slid a piece of paper off the top of the stack "Michael Merrick?"