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“He said he’d meet you at the ranch” Buffy offered s We’re gonna need new ones sooner than later”

“I’ll get it into the budget,” I said Peeling off my shirt, I dropped it to the floor and took the ca on your mind, Buff?”

“No Yes Maybe” She sat back on the counter, her gaze dropping to her hands “You’re going to the ranch”

“Yes”

“It’s ”

“The area’s been downgraded We have the licenses to enter, as long as we’re armed”

Buffy’s head snapped up “It’s disrespectful”

Ah The crux of the probleave a small, almost imperceptible nod “Buffy, the dead aren’t there They’ve been buried” After they were cre back to life and doing disrespectful things to the living

“They died there,” she said, fiercely “They died there, and now you’re going to turn it into more news”

“We aired the attack”

“That was different That was so to sleep” Her expression turned pleading “Can’t we let the to disturb the so that they can sleep The Ry that there’s nothing of any interest in those buildings, we’ll keep less respectful journalists froht be wrong—journalists seeking a scoop will break into alet in there, and I needed Buffy to stay calht well co

She sniffled “You swear you’re not intending to upset their ghosts?”

“I’hosts, but I son’t do anything to disturb any spirits thatthere” I put down the camera she’d handed me and shook my head as I opened the van closet and pulled out the rest of ear I always keep a few pairs of thick denim jeans on hand, the kind with steel fibers woven into the fabric “Be prepared” isn’t just the Boy Scouts’ h I don’t need to add poltergeists to the ranks of ‘things that want to kill me’ ”