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I closedno sound when Ava pulled the stitch a little too tight When it was coauze and white tape Her hands had been steady as she’d stitched ain now that she was finished

"Are you okay?" I asked her quietly

"What?" She opened her eyes and looked at me "Sure I aet shot every day; or break into houses to use medical equipment Totally normal All of this" She took a sip of her tea "Every bit of it"

"It really is for me Thanks, Mavis" I rolledot up and put them in the trash bin If I took the trash out before we left then no one would even check to see if there was a bloody shirt inside

"I know" Sighing she turned around and poured the rest of the tea in the sink

"Not good?"

"No matter how much I try, I just don’t like it Tea should be sweet and cold" She smiled sadly

"I tried sweet tea once in New Orleans It was like drinking a cake through a straw" I wrinkled hed and the tension betweenup the mess quietly, her expression blank I knew fron She orried

"Are we safe here tonight?" I asked her

"Should be" She shrugged "I was careful, but you never know"

"Okay We recoup and strategize" I headed out of the kitchen

"Where are you going?" Ava asked

"To find a new shirt" I offered her a weak s to steal an old man’s clothes?" She raised an eyebrow

"Would you rather rew "I could do that"

Red filled her cheeks and her eyes darted toward Mavis before co back to me She waved her hand in the direction of the stairs "Do what you have to do"

I chuckled as I turned a corner and took the stairs slowly At the top I leaned against the wall and took a deep breath I’d lostup the stairs windedaround I saw the door that led to the bathrooh I turned on the sink and splashed water onmy jaw so I used a wash cloth from the shelf to scrub it away There was a s carefully before cleaning off the sink and throwing it in the trash There were two other doors on this floor and one led into a small bedroom

I checked the bureau and pulled out a white shirt It s It was tight but didn’t pull at the bandage which was good