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All the way doard

To that place That place that knows nothing but force and pain Violation and greed

I feel the spark there

And…

I’m a little less afraid of the future

8

Luke

“Where do you live?” I ask Katelyn once we’re back inside the restaurant

She rattles off the address in a monotone, and I commit it to memory I pull out my phone to call her a cab when I realize I don’t need to This is New York, not LA Cabs are a dime a dozen here All we have to do is walk out the front door and we’ll find one

I guide Katelyn through the restaurant, when—

“Luke!” Lois scurries towardyour tables and his”

“Right I’ care of Mrs Wolfe’s friend”

Lois’s dees at the ht?” she asks Katelyn

“Yes, I’ help I’m just so worried about Zee”

“The para looked under control I’ood news soon”

“Katelyn,” I say, “take care of yourself”

“I will Thank you again, Luke”

“You know,” Lois says, “your shift is over in an hour anyway Why don’t you go ahead and take the rest of the evening off, Luke? As a personal thank you fro such a help with Mrs Wolfe and her friend”

I try not to let ood and fair er, but this still surprises me “Are you sure?”

“Yes I’d feel much better if you waited with Ms…” She lifts her eyebrows at Katelyn

“Brooks,” Katelyn says “Katelyn Brooks”

Brooks Now I have a last name and an address I file the information away

“Okay Thanks, Lois I’ll see you tomorrow, then”

“You’re off tomorrow”

“Right See you the day after, then”

“Don’t be late” Lois smiles and then heads back to the front of the restaurant

I follow, leading Katelyn through the crowd of people waiting for a table and out the door

Several yellow cabs are already waiting outside the restaurant “Here, you go It was really niceyou, Katelyn”

She so of my hand

“You know,” I say, thinking out loud, “you don’t live far from here Only three blocks Instead of a cab, what if I walked you home?”

Her eyes widen “In the dark?”

“It’s dark, yes I wouldn’t want you walking alone But I promise you’re safe with me Besides, this is don Manhattan It’s well lit”

For the first ti She lives in an expensive neighborhood Expensive even for Manhattan Near the Wolfe building She either comes fro dinner with Zee Wolfe?