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"I’, face contorted into a snarl of his own, but when he sees me properly he pulls back a little

"What you want? You ain’t my uncle, man" It’s not h I aer than the little punk It’s the look in my eyes The don’t-think-I-won’t-kill-you-if-you-put-a-foot-wrong-here look

"Right now, I’o up the stairs, I’et up to the office, you’re gone I’d better not see you for fucking dust"

The kid hears the warning in ive hiotta see this shrink, dog IFor real"

"Don’t worry about that I’ll ood doctor"

"Hello?" The crackly voice that bursts out of the speaker in the wall is that of a young wo sure he reads how much trouble he’ll be in if he fucks up this next part He casts otta see Doc Newan"

"Hi, Antonio! Come on up"

The door buzzes and a catch unlocks somewhere Antonio opens the door and alk inside--thefor us on the other side is the unfriendly type He’s ex-military I can smell jarhead a ’s off as soon as he lays eyes on me

"Dr Newan know you’re bringing a guest with you today, Mr Fletcher? You kno she hates surprise visitors"

"Yeah, Franz Chill He’s uard, Franz--who the fuck calls their kid Franz?--gives ht your uncle was currently a resident of the penal systeot outta SeaTac," I tell him

"Yeah, you look fresh off the bus," Franz replies He shoves a tray into my chest, none too politely "You should still knohat to do with this, then"

I euard: wallet, cell phone and keys I purposefully left the gun in the car There’s nothing on the phone or in the wallet that could cause me any serious proble I hold nores that and shoves the tray into Antonio’s chest instead A grubby bus ticket, a single house key and a cruet the feeling that the contents of his pockets are prettyhere for you on the way out" Franz tips his head to the doorway behind hionna be late"

The office is on the third floor, pretentious as shit When we enter, the owner of the bubbly interco with, what is that? Excitement? She can only be twenty herself, curly blond hair and a tidy body clad in a skirt and blazer right out of "Legally Blonde" She grins when she sees the kid next to me