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Peter was already inside, standing behind the counter where he’d rested his backpack "Where should I put this?" he asked, gesturing towards the bag

"In that office behind you Maybe you and Fohi can hang out in there, just in case someone walks by Then they won’t see you unless they actually co too?"

I battled to keep a straight face "He’s our de past hi to happen," he gru-sitting," I added

"The things I won’t do for you, Bryn Mathis …," he said, shaking his head

I droppedinside the front pocket to pull the har it intohug "Be careful, please Get your gun out and use it on anything that doesn’t look like one of us"

"Will do," he said into my shoulder

Ja?" asked Ronald, looking around at the mess all over the floor and the overturned desk and chair

"You guys are going to be here too?" asked Peter, pulling away fro hopeful

"Yep," said Ja type … but we don’t want to go without you guys on to the prison, either, so …"

"Yeah We’re gonna hang out with you, if that’s okay," finished Ronald

"No probleuns?"

They both shook their heads

Peter pulled his 357 out of his bag, breathing in puffs with the effort "Don’t worry Mine’s big enough for all of us" He hefted it into the air, his ar with the effort

Ronald reached out and took it froently "Maybe I can take a look at this And hold it while ait," he said

Peter shrugged "You said you’re not a fighter, but if you think you can shoot a canner in the head with it, then be uest"

Ronald handed it back, hurriedly "Uh, no That’s okay You look like you can handle it"

Peter s Ronald "Yeah Sure, no probleoes off I don’t have the best ai, either," I said

Ronald and Jamal moved quickly to the back of the office and sat down on the floor, talking quietly to each other and glancing from time to time at my fearless friend

I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek "Hold the fort We’ll be back in a jiff"

"How long is a jiff, exactly?" asked Fohi, co Rob’s and Winky’s backpacks in either hand next to hiht? I’m not sure"

Fohi rolled his eyes "Okay Ha Good one We’ll see you e see you, I guess"

I looked at Ronald "I’ happens, you take ot it?"

Ronald nodded

I left the office and joined Rob and Winky outside, grabbing Ronald’s round and the seat grinding unco their bikes, waiting for me

"So, where to?" asked Rob

"To Cannerville First stop, the cannerThey just pushed off, riding ahead of led to stay on the seat and follow behind

We rode down the streets of the neighborhood surrounding the cannerWe knew from our previous trip that some of the houses contained spies for the canners, and none of us were interested in finding out whose side they were on now The plan was to slip by without being detected

We arrived at the canner place and I took the lead, riding ht to the front of the house where Winky said she had last seen Bodo

The front entrance was coht of itBodo stuck inside there when the place blew up All ood of a job causing a distraction here The s in the air, which made me nervous and sick on several levels Please don’t let it be Bodo

I got offfor Rob and Winky to stay there with it; but Winky ignoredme a couple paces back I looked overbehind a tree keeping a lookout,me feel reasonably sure that at least ouldn’t be snuck up on from behind