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“Hey,” she said In a ood hand, his throat too thick for speech There were tears in Naorateful he was for that

“Anna,” Naoenuinely pleased to see her, which was a good start “Jim, you met Anna? She saved me frouess,” Auess I owe you one”

It took Holden a moment to realize that “Red” meant Anna She seemed surprised by it too

“I’m happy I was able to help I’m afraid I was very stoned on pain one the other way”

“Just take the ood for, you can trade it in”

“Asshole,” Amos said, and threw a pillow at him

“Thank you,” Holden said “If you saved the”

“I’m happy I was able to help,” she repeated To Naomi she said, “You look better than the last ti better,” Naorimace “We’ll see how mobile it is once the bones knit up”

Anna nodded and smiled at her, and then the smile faded

“Jim? I’m sorry, but I still need to speak to you,” she said to hiht I’d see these people again I’o ahead and do it”

The woman’s eyes shifted between the crewnation

“I need so,” A up in bed a bit Holden knew Anna wouldn’t understand how literally Amos meant that Hopefully a preacher didn’t need anyone ot it,” Alex added, “it’s yours” Areement

Anna directed her answer at Holden “I’ve talked to the head of security and he’s agreed to keep quiet about Clarissa’s confession All that she’s done I need you to keep quiet too”

Holden frowned, but didn’t reply Naomi said, “Why?”

“Well,” Anna said “It’s Jas—”

“Not why ask us?” Naomi said “Why don’t you want people to know?”

Anna nodded “If it gets out, given our current situation, they’ll probably execute her”

“Good,” Holden said

“She does kind of have it coht in front of her and nodded She didn’t reed, only that she heard theive her,” she said “If nothing else, as a favor toThat’s what I want”

In the pause, A up his forehead

“Why?” Naoain, her voice calm

Anna pressed her lips thin “She’s not evil I believe that Clarissa did what she did out of a love A sick love, but love And if she’s dead, there won’t be any hope for her And I have to hope”

Holden saw the words wash over Naomi, a sudden pain in her eyes that he didn’t understand She pulled back her lips, baring her teeth Her whisper was obscene and so quiet that no one but hi the bones of her fingers against his own