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“Empty,” I repeat “Fuck,” I say under my breath “Where the fuck could Frank be?”

“I know it’s hard to believe, Marcello—” Claudio begins

I let out a short barking laugh “Drowned men don’t walk out of the river”

“We have to assume he did We have no other choice”

I sigh and relent This isn’t Claudio’s fault I need to breathe, think, recalibrate

I glance out theThe dawn traffic filters by Normal people on their way to work Oblivious to the shit that happens right underneath their noses

Turning my attention back to Claudio, I ht on out of the goddao? What would he do? The Russians just watched hionna be welcomed back there with open arms”

“Perhaps not,” Claudio agrees “But if he had other allies…?”

“Like who? The Polish wouldn’t fucking dare crosseach other in the back alleys to get involved with this The ot no other allies, Claudio”

He runs a hand over his head “There o somewhere”

We fall into silence again I drink my coffee It’s hot and thick and tastes like crude oil, but it’s better than nothing

I look up at theagain, lare

My eyes are deep tunnels of black, lost and searching Then aze refocuses on the outside world More cars pass by The sun is beginning to rise over the city skyline in the distance

An ordinary white sedan pulls up to a stop at the intersection right outside the diner

But what’s not ordinary is the girl in the front seat

I’d recognize that blond hair anywhere

It’s Harper

I leap to e It hits the ground, explodes, rooves in the tile floor

But I’

I knock into another patron coh the front door

“Hey!” he cries out, but I don’t stop to look back at that either

All I care about—all I can see—is that white sedan and the blond-haired girl sitting in the passenger seat

Why she’s here of all places, now of all times, is a question for later

I have to catch her first

I hop into our car, ignoring Claudio’s yelling fro the white sedan as fast as I can

Far ahead ofthe on-rahway

“I’rowl under my breath