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Holden wanted to object He could feel the denials welling up in his chest, but he couldn’t quite bring hiht

“I have an idea hoe gather intelligence on the Laconians,” Bobbie said “It’s the first step that we need But we have to oing back to before there were gates Noto sustain and become a way of life for them the way it used to be Did you notice how they’ve started calling the Laconians ‘inners’?”

“Yeah, I did”

“But you were right in there We’re looking at a really s to do what I think we really need to do? It has to be your idea”

“Okay, little lost here Which idea ofabout?”

“I’ the operation I have init like you just came up with it yourself”

Holden didn’t knohether to laugh or scowl, so he did a little bit of both

“No, I’ to do that,” Holden said “You say what you need to say, and I’ll back you But I’ credit for your proposals”

“If it’s my idea, it’ll be like e showed up,” Bobbie said “I’ll have to fight to prove it If you do it, they’ll just listen Coht da won’t”

A clank ca dropped He didn’t turn to look The unease he’d felt before shifted, changed its nature, but it didn’t go away

“I don’t like that,” Holden said “I hate the idea that you’re being treated as anything less than me It’s bullshit I’ll tell Saba that—”

“You reht before Alex and she called it quits?”

Holden blinked at the non sequitur “Yeah, of course That was a terrible night”

“You re? ‘Rapid Heartbeats’?”

“Sure,” Holden said