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Living on the edge, Ethan said silently to lanced at Annabelle "How do you know so much about it?"

She smiled "I come across all types, and I pick up information here and there, file it away Context is important in my business You never knohat information you’ll need The folks who request my services aren’t always on the up-and-up And, frankly, ’erous We try to keep each other aware"

"Any idea where in Hellriver the sups ht be?"

"No, sorry I stay out of there physically" She patted her belly, as if her touch would protect her child from the darkness around her "Especially with Peanut, who is currently again kickboxing et back to work," Ethan said "If you do hear anything, could you let us know?"

"Of course," she said with a s you" Annabelle smiled and offered a hand

I looked instinctively down, realized the skin of her palm was dotted with hundreds of black dots the size of pinpricks When I looked at theers

"Each handshake with a client leaves a mark," she explained "Not all ’mancers do it; they don’t like the permanent reminder of death But it’s important for me to keep a memento of the ones I’ve spoken to They trust me, and I take that trust very seriously"

I had no doubt of that I took her hand, shook it "I’lad you did, too Be safe And stay away frohouls if you can"

I intended to, absolutely

• • •

"Where to now?" I asked Ethan e ain

"I suppose we should take a look at Hellriver See if we can find alchemy or other sorcery"

I nodded, and alked south toward the broken fence that hborhood and Hellriver

"We’ve discovered so our stalwart Sentinel is squeas should stay that way Present company excluded," I added at his arch look "Because you’re the houl of them all"

He snorted

"Annabelle seems cool Very levelheaded for a wo She seeets the job done, takes care of her fa a sitcom?"

"It certainly sounds like it"

We reached the chain-link fence that separated Hellriver frons warning of the chemical spill We walked over a section of fence that had been flattened against pavehborhood’s once-fawood trees FOR BACKYARDS, FOR COMMUNITY, FOR YOUR FAMILY, it read