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He leans forward "Did you really call ht to stare at my bedhead?"

That particular streak of huain "Sir--can I still trust you? What you told ned, does that still hold true?"

Merendsen sobers "Always, Lee" His voice is firm, the voice I remember The voice of a real leader "Always, you hear et enough air "Your fiancée How much do you know about her?"

"I know more about her than anyone else does, Jubilee," he responds, though his tone is cautious His use of my full name is deliberate He knows only my fahow badly I need his help "Why are you asking aze into the pinhole lens of my camera "I need information about her father’s corporation"

"You want e; hearing the words now, I regret ever having called my old captain at all "No, sir I ood at that"

My eyes snap to the screen, surprise robbing et involved with LaRoux Industries, Lee Whatever you’re into, just…let it go Fight your instincts and walk away"

"I can’t People are dying, and I think it’s because of LRI I had soone now It’s just me, sir There’s no one else to chase this"

"Lee," he says slowly, voice softening to match ht away, but his expression shifts Though I can’t understand why, there’s fear in his gaze Concern Soht-years between us, he’s seen the echo of what’s happened here in h "You’re still on Avon?"

I nod, not trustingwith relief Until Flynn came into h I’d just been storing up the flood for this moment But Merendsen’s the lasthis head "Nobody lasts there more than a month or so--I barely lasted two"

"I’m okay," I lie "But their planetary revieith the Council isn’t far off, and things are heating up here And LaRoux Industries ?"

I want to tell hi base I saith Flynn in the swamp, but the words refuse to for worse Stronger"