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I elevate aze "So that’s what this is about? Finding the town? The grown man everyone fears?"

"Not everyone fears him," he replies "Otherwise, no one would be after him"

"That’s not true Everyone fears hirows in the dirt of that town, soak the air, are engrained into the le person who resides there That’s how a place like that exists Without fear, the society would cruirl," he finally says with his head tilted "I wasn’t expecting that"

"You say insightful, most say crazy," I mutter, which only deepens his puzzle, "Well,Donny Elderman, not the town The man has been off the radar for years, yet he’s toxic to the country" He loosens his tie more, wipes the sweat from his brow, and then rests back on his hands "But yes, I’d like to bring the ton in the process Fro forced as subjects to his drug experiments There are no rules, no laws to abide by because no one knows it exists Regardless, if that restriction and control is based on fear, like you say, a place like that shouldn’t exist "

"Why do you care somy chin on ht amount of money Or has no one tried to buy you off yet?"

"No, there have been a feho have tried to buy my silence, but that’s not who I a the place down"

I fold ainst the dresser behind reed to that"

He assesses me and I mimic his move, surprised byto Ryler, you’re a good, trustworthy person, which wouldlike this" When I don’t say anything, he straightens his legs and rises to his feet "Guess Ryler rong" He fishes his phone froh Now that we have Evan Elderman detained, we can stillthe truth The idea that the police soed to arrest Evan sees and stand toHe was taught not to open his mouth about his father’s secrets, and unlike rave He’s not weak like s up the phone "Unlike you? Does that mean you’ll help us?"

I think about all et the years of lies and sins off otten, even bythe truth could be my salvation Ellis said the truth would set me free, and I owe him that much--owe him the truth

"I’d need to knoas safe first" I sink down on the mattress "After this… I’ll never be able to live a normal life, especially in Laramie"

He sits down near the foot of the bed a few feet away froht You won’t be able to live in Laraive you a new name and identity A new life, if that’s what you want"

What he’s saying sounds wonderful I want it so much my body aches, and pleads to be free fro me But could it be this easy? I’ about Witness Protection?" I ask the detective

He nods "I aernails are chipped andapart on the outside, yet I don’t mind With each part of my appearance that breaks, I feel so much more like myself, a person I haven’t fully discovered, but want toelse

My hands drop to my lap "There’s ured as much" He stuffs his phone into the front pocket of his shirt

Mustering all the confidence I have, I square o to et there, I want you to arrestwith oing to happen… My ives people drugs, so charges against her shouldn’t be a problem If that doesn’t work, check her necklace She keeps cocaine in there"

I suck in a breath, then another, yet I can’t feel the air saturating s "Underneath the basement floor of my house are the bones of iven a proper burial" His jaw drops at that request, but I keep going, needing to get all my secrets out "And finally, I want to be set up with a psychiatrist wherever I end up I need to find out… Well, what’s wrong with me?" If I’m crazy or not If I have psychosis or what Who I really am when I’m not under the power ofwith you?"

"That’s for me to worry about, not you And there’s one last request that I want as well If you agree to all of this, then I’ll give you what you want"