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Sarah stayed silent, the fu kind of silent

"Uh, yeah," Michael replied "I didn’t think it was a big deal until Kaine hinted at it So I, uh, told her to meet us in Atlanta I think we should talk to her See if she can help us Or if she knows anything And she’s not being hunted by the media and cops, either I don’t know" Now that it was all out, it suddenly seemed like the worst idea ever

Sarah dropped her fork "Michael How can you possibly risk bringing someone else in on this?" She leaned back in her seat and folded her ar his head He looked confused

Michael tried to smooth it over "Guys, don’t worry I was careful And I feel like I owe it to her to try to explain what happened I really feel like we need to talk to her Together"

"You should’ve asked us first," Sarah said sharply

Michael looked at Bryson, and he nodded, once, in agreeht I should’ve It just didn’t seeht with her Make her feel better And I just had a feeling that she can help us somehow I don’t know I’ at their food Michael felt like an idiot

He took another sip of his drink, al couple a few tables away staring straight at hiel-hardened style that looked either cutting-edge or fifty years out of date; Michael couldn’t tell The man was thin, his cheeks packed with acne scars His companion, a worass, had leaned her head against the man’s shoulder No food--not even a drink--sat on the table in front of the at Michael

"Check that out," he said to Sarah, voice low He gave a slight nod in the direction of the couple A chill worked its way up his spine

Sarah stiffened "We better get out of here"

Bryson had his back to the h, and turned to take a look He swung back, face a little pale

"Okay, that’s just not right," he said "Let’s skedaddle"

Michael grabbed his sandwich and a handful of fries as Sarah paid the waitress, and continued eating as he walked toward the exit, the strangers’ stares like lasers between his shoulders He fought the urge to look back at theh his friends hadn’t said it, Michael knehat they were thinking That it couldn’t be a coincidence, this odd pair staring at the the Net

He hoped he hadn’t made a terrible mistake

Michael finished his food just as he found a seat on the new bus He brushed the crurease on his jeans like a five-year-old, then leaned his head against the , keeping his eyes on the café down the street So to happen It wasn’t a minute later when the couple ca in a sweet roesture They turned and walked toward the bus station

"Crap," he said

"They’re following us?" Sarah asked