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"His girlfriend was here yesterday," Curran said "Looking for him Someone took her car"

"That’s a shame Can’t help you, lanced at the gathering "Most of these assholes are here every day Good luck getting their attention, though Half of theover, and the other half don’t give a shit"

"Thanks" I had no proble flashy and loud but not too scary, or the mercs would just take off I headed for the table closest to the door If they ran, they’d have to get past us Curran walked next to me "So I arinned "You want help?"

"No, I got it" His kind of help would likely involve a roar, and the , I’d get nowhere They all probably saw George asking questions about him yesterday Nobody helped her then and nobody would helpperson was serious business and mercs didn’t like attention They’d clam up None of them would want to be a witness or to volunteer any infor SUV That was theft--serious theft, but still only theft--and everyone would understand that we’d handle it without the cops involved

A dried-up French fry crunched under my foot

"I can’t believe Jim tried to sell us this leaky boat" The next time I saw him, I’d let him know exactly how I felt about it

"Jim is a Beast Lord," Curran said "Pack comes first Friendships come second"

Three feet from the table I jumped and landed on its top I didn’t land softly I landed with a serious thud

The istered on some faces

"You knowat me

"A one-armed woman came here yesterday in a blue FJ Cruiser Soot up from her table and started toward me Forty, built like a brick house, and mean eyed She looked familiar Her clothes and the bruise on her face said she had had a rough night and was looking for someone she could use to vent her frustration "I owe you"

I knew her but couldn’t reave herShoot I was out of practice "Really?"

"Yeah You took "