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Which meant today was Friday Not that it ast said "Aray eyebrows furrowed appraisingly "What you got?"

"Springfield A 45," Wolgast said

The ers on the counter "Well, let’s have a look I know you got it on you"

Wolgast withdrew the gun froainst his spine It was the one Lacey had left on the floor of the Lexus The clip was empty; whether she’d been the person to fire it or soast didn’t know Maybe she had said so, but he couldn’t remember In all the chaos it had been hard to tell hat In any event, the gun was fafields were standard Bureau issue He freed the clip and locked the slide to show the man it was empty and placed it on the counter

The ast could tell, froht, that he knew guns

"Tungsten fraer reset Pretty fancy" He looked at Wolgast expectantly "I didn’t know better, I’d say you were a fed"

Wolgast did his best to look innocent "You could say I used to be In a former life"

His un on the counter "A former life," he said with a dispirited shake of his head "Guess we’ve all got one of those Let h the curtain into the back, returning a moment later with a small cardboard box

"This is all I have in a 45 ACP Keep some around for a fellow retired from the ATF, likes to take a twelve-pack up into the woods and shoot the cans as he e day But I haven’t seen him in a while You’re the first person to coht as well have them as anyone" He placed the box on the counter: fifty rounds, hollow points He tipped his head toward the counter "Go on, they’re no good in the box You go right ahead and load it if you want"

Wolgast freed the clip and began thuet o down into Whiteriver" The er "They’re saying you got to hit theo down like a haht Otherwise, that’s it, you’re history" He stated this fact flatly, without satisfaction or fear; he ast what the weather was "Doesn’t randast finished loading the clip, pulled the slide to chamber a round, and checked the safety "Where’d you hear that?"

"Internet It’s all over" He shrugged "Conspiracy theories, government cover-ups Vampire stuff Most of it sounds half crazy Hard to tell what’s bullshit and what ain’t"

Wolgast returned his weapon to the hollow of his spine He considered asking the man if he could use his computer, to see the news for hih It was entirely possible, he realized, that he knew more than any person alive He’d seen Carter and the others, what they could do

"I’ll tell you one thing There’s a guy, calls hi froh-rise don Says he’s barricaded in there with a high-powered rifle Got soe, you should see these bastards ain "Just reet two They ather up supplies and carry theoods, powdered milk and coffee, batteries, toilet paper, candles, fuel A pair of fishing rods and a box of tackle The sun was high and bright; around them, the air seemed frozen with an iman to play

At the back of the car, the two shook hands "You’re up at Bear Mountain, aren’t you?" the "

There seemed no reason to hide it "How did you know?"

"The way you ca else up there except for the camp Don’t knohy they never could sell it"

"I went there as a kid Funny, it hasn’t changed at all I guess that’s the point of places like that"

"Well, you’re sood spot Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone"

"You should bug out, too," Wolgast said "Head higher into the ast could read it in thea decision

"Co"

He led Wolgast back into the store and passed through the beaded curtain Behind it lay the store’s s area The air was stale and close, the shades drawn tight An air conditioner hu his eyes adjust In the center of the roo The head of the bed was elevated at a forty-five-degree angle, showing her drawn face, which was tipped to the side, toward the light that pulsed in the shaded s Her body was covered with a blanket, but Wolgast could see how thin she was On a sauze and ointen tank, pale green, was parked beside the bed A corner of the blanket had been drawn aside, exposing her nad feet Cotton balls were tucked between her yellowed toes A chair had been pulled up to the foot of the bed, and on it Wolgast saw a nail file and bottles of colored polish

"She always liked to have pretty feet," thethem for her when you caast didn’t knohat to say The situation was obvious; theanywhere The two of the area