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I nod out a yes "I suppose You guys really don’t know enough about dinosaurs" I sniff awayyou should understand, you know"

"I really should, Smurf I need you, kid"

I look up at him and the tears are back

He leans down and presses his head to mine "I do, Sasha Cherlin I need you I can’t lose you to this sadness You have to snap out of it We’re gonna take our tis slow Go on road trips See the West from theof a truck Just… relax and be norood?"

I nod again And then we stand up and walk towards the door

I take one last look around the roo ive up one last sob for what could have been, and walk out

James closes the door behind us

And that’s it

It’s over

Chapter Thirty-Six

James - Six Months Later

Medicine Wheel National Historic Land

"Oh !"

"Wimp," I say to Harper as we climb the hill that leads to the medicine wheel monument Sasha is way out ahead, halfway up the hill already

"Why in the hell did ait until Deces herself

It is daative two But we’re all dressed for it We’ve got the best winter gear money can buy Merc finally cracked the financial accounts on those files, so there was a windfall payday for all four of us We didn’t find the brainwashing stuff--not yet, anyway And maybe it was all a lie Maybe they just told us that shit to scare us Or s Who knows But if it was on that disc, it’s very well-hidden