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“He had to have control of his change before this,” Newman said, “or his family wouldn’t have let him walk around the house in leopard form”

“He was trying to suicide by cop when he started to shift,” I said “He e”

“Would that have been enough to make him lose control like that?” Newman asked

“I think it was,” I said

“Yes,” said Olaf When the others looked at him, he explained, “If he were a normal person that was intent on suicide by police, he would raise his gun instead of putting it down, so ould have to shoot hiun That is the only difference”

“Win, don’t put yourself and Blake in a car with him I don’t want to have to explain that to Haley,” Duke said

“Don’t do that, Duke Don’t bring Haley into this”

“I know you want to help Bobby, and I know you believe he didn’t kill Ray, but is any of that worth not having a lifetime with the woentle It was another gliood cop as in there somewhere Maybe I really hadn’t seen him at his best

“Damn it, Duke,” Newman said

“I’ll call an a to look him over Okay, Win?”

New Bobby’s If the wereleopard woke up now, it could go badly But Neas as aware of that as I was, so I let him be Duke went into the office to call for an a breath

28

NEWMAN STARTLED SO badly, he sat down hard beside Bobby I was beside New hi both of us toward the door Even though he had been daht me He wanted to save Bobby, but that didn’t ston moved set out Olaf closed the door behind us, and we all watched as Bobby coughed and sputtered awake

“You broke my nose,” Bobby said in a voice that was thick with blood and all the things that happened when someone smashed your nose into their knee repeatedly

“You’re alive,” I said froe bars