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'The Coalition for Better Understanding between humans and shapeshifters,' I said

'Yes' - and the as calmer - 'yes, and you werewith him'

I wondered if the stories had talked about Nathaniel, the guy who lived with us, or the fact that I was also 'dating' Jean-Claude, the Master Vampire of St Louis? I almost never watched the news, so I didn't always knoas being said in the media about any of us

'Why didn't you call the Coalition number and ask for Micah directly?'

'He said really awful things to me last time we spoke, Ms Blake I think I'd fall coain to me with Rush hurt like this Can you please tell him, and then if Mike wants to see us, to see Rush, beforein timeI meanOh, God, I'm usually better than this, but it's so terrible what's happening to Rush, so hard to watch'

'Happening? What do you mean?'

'He's rottinghe's rotting alive and aware and the doctors can't stop it They have drugs that can slow it, but nothing slows it down much'

'I' preternatural attacked Mr Callahan and now he's got some disease?'

'Yes,' she said, almost a breath rather than a word

'But they've seen it before, this disease?'

'Yes, they say it's the first case outside the East Coast, but they've learned enough to slow it down There's no cure, though I overheard a nurse call it the zo it The older nurse said, "Don't give it a na that it's just a matter of time before it hits the news'

'Why do they call it the zoive myself time to think

'You rot from the outside in, so you're aware the whole tied to prolong the life of one other person' Her breath came out in a shudder

'Mrs Morgan, there are questions I want to ask, but I'm afraid they'll upset you more'

'Ask, just ask,' she said

I took in a deep breath, let it out slow, and finally said, 'You said prolong For how long?'

'Five days'

Shit, I thought Out loud I said, 'Give me an address, phone numbers, and I'll tell Micah' I started to promise we'd be there, but I couldn't proed frootten on a plane for ed family didn't mean he'd do the same I took down all the information as if I were sure of his answer

'Thank you, thank you soto do to call another woe the men so much more than they think, don't we?'

'Actually Micah es me more than the other way around'

'Oh, is it because you're police like Rush? Is ita man?'

'I think so,' I said

'You'll bring Micah?'

I didn't want to lie to her, but I wasn't sure the absolute truth was anything she could handle; she needed so on to, to look forward to while she sat and watched her ex-husband rot while still alive Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, just thinking it was terrible I couldn't leave her to watch it with no hope, so I lied

'Of course,' I said

'See, I'e him more than you think'

'Maybe so, Mrs Morgan, maybe so'

She sounded cal my son home, Anita, please'

What could I say? 'I willBea'

I hung up, hoping I hadn't lied to her