7 didn't lo

like a corpse the city forgot to bury. Midnight painted it in cold b

ly. Not out of nervo

her alive longer t

s, angles, shadows that could hide a man with a rifle. There

o

ere to make

e to make t

hoed like gunshots on concrete. The place had a pulse. A hush that li

ung up over a folding table. Cheap. Disposabl

already

, hands folded on the table like a man used to signing death warrants wit

she stepped in

ar

alled her that now. One w

his b

early,"

e replied. "We all

ir opposite him. "I ap

e of him. Because every sec

n busy. Ports. Docks. Union hands whispering your name. You pulle

"Rot doesn't hold up

The sound h

ve had yo

voice was low. "Becaus

e flicker. Not f

te-and pushed a single sheet across the

ed like Caroline used to. Before the fire. Before the screams

e didn'

ir job," he said. "You know the one. Warehouse

was ice. "

ers drummed on

d forwar

n't my hand on the lighter. You've been hunting me for

aid n

ept

someone bigger. He knew something. And the people

ou want to

g into my business. And in

retched be

her tensed-but she didn't pull a gun. She pulled out

ain. A preda

upid, a

aid. "But y

st

if it's a lie-if this is some long con to stall

ice sh

ust burn y

lean

the godda

ithout ano

faintest tremor in his jaw betr

longer ju

s a re