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I scowled "Pellini, if this is some kind of bullshit stunt--"

He actually looked pained "It’s not I just need to talk to you I swear I’ave him my best "I don’t trust you farther than I can throw you" look, but went ahead and stepped into the copy rooarded hi but so that looked an awful lot like concern

"What’s up, Pellini?"

He licked his lips in a strange show of nervousness "That guy you’re with How do you know hiht? He’s on the task force"

Pellini shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot "Look, I know you and I have never really clicked," he said in a low urgent voice while I tried to keepup to otta warn you about that guy About Knight"

My bullshit defenses were in high gear at this point "Go on"

"He’s weird," Pellini said "Seriously strange shit" He paused "I mean, you’re weird too, but your weirdness is kinda entertaining, but his is seriously fucking creepy" He shuddered while I stared at hi weird?

"What " I tried "Ule coherent response

"He knows shit," Pellini continued "I worked with him at NOPD, and " He shook his head "I know this sounds crazy, but I’ out with him too much Trust me on this"

"Trust you on this," I echoed, unable to keep the disbelief out of rined "Yeah I swear I’ with you I’ve justwell, I’ve seen his " He trailed off and scrubbed a hand over his face, then took a deep breath "I know you got no reason to believe ot a lot of secrets I’m just sayin’ that souy"

"Okay," Iive a fuck about me andmy secrets"

For a second he looked puzzled at the question " ’Cuz you’re a cop"

"So is Knight," I pointed out

He frowned "But I ith you," he said as if it was the onna let soht," I said, feeling as if the world was about to tilt and toss ave otten so off his chest Then he turned and yanked the door open and walked aithout another word

I stared at the open door for several heartbeats, then finally shook myself back to some semblance of reality

"My life," I muttered toKnight "It is never dull"

Chapter 23

Marco and I took separate cars to the scene, which was good since I needed soain er, but the strange conversation with Pellini had thrown me completely for a loop I was farht eird" And I had absolutely no reason to believe that Pellini was being anything but sincere In a way it was a bit co to know that I wasn’t the only one who had the capacity to be unnerved by Knight at times Not to mention I’d been braced for a confrontation with Pellini and I wasn’t about to coh, I’d spent enough tihts or secrets or whatever, he’d have a head full of them by now

But I couldn’t help but be stupidly warmed by the fact that--at least in this--Pellini had ency vehicles were clustered along the road a short distance past the apartment complex I found a place to park behind an ambulance, then walked up to where a knot of people stood about a hundred yards froe ditch Marco dawdled a ways behind but I didn’t worry about him He seemed to be the type who preferred to observe from a distance as much as possible, which was fine withthat he totally had one for so long inanyone on "h any sort of dealings with demons came with its own price So, yes, I was be a circle of friends and allies