Page 141 (1/2)

"Yes," I said, and closedinto my seat "That’s okay Thank you"

Nathan didn’t say anything He just drove on

Part of , noalley parking lot and find Tansy waiting, her ass parked on somebody else’s car as she counted down the reeted us were shadows, and the dead, leafless trees

Nathan pulled out a key as alked toward the bowling alley door I blinked He glanced etically, "I’ve been here a lot lately"

"I guessed," I said Anything else I ht have had to say was lost as he opened the door and I ar their tails in frantic delight Minnie’s delight see happy to see s are their oard

By the tis off, Nathan was already past the threshold I sighed and straightened, whistling to bring Beverly to heel Minnie followed her, and both dogs followed me as I made my way inside I closed the door behindalley before turning and pulling ainst my shoulder "Oh my God, I was so worried about you," he said, words only so breath, locking my arms around him Then I took another, and another, and before I kneas happening, I was crying against hih hter as his own tears das twined around our ankles, whining anxiously

Finally, we let each other go Nathan looked at ain Please I don’t thinkto," I proether, into Dr Cale’s lab

Dr Cale herself was parked at one of the lab benches, flipping through a file of pictures that I didn’t quite see before she snapped the folder shut I was glad of that What little I had seen gave the impression of red, rawat autopsy photos just at theher face "You’re both all right," she said Then the relief slipped, replaced by puzzlement "Where’s Tansy?"

"We ran into a mob of sleepwalkers," I said "She threw herself at theirl Will she never learn?" Dr Cale shook her head "Well, it’s not the first tiet it?"

I produced the thu it solemnly up for her to see "I have a few questions before I hand it over"

"Anything" Dr Cale spread her hands "I arimaced "Ah"

Nathan, meanwhile, frowned at me "Your friend from SymboGen?"

"He was a tapeworm," I said "Dr Cale, why didn’t you tell me?"

"Honestly, Sal, it didn’t seem to matter, and I didn’t want to upset youto come out in its own time It seemed like a bad idea to drop it all on you at once"

"Is there anything else you’re not telling reat deal," said Dr Cale easily "But you’re learningin et to decide what I should and shouldn’t know?"