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I think Lorraine expected h ih crowd," she said and dis up the tube and turning to face us "If none of that was your cup of tea, I have lending agreements with other stables By no means are your choices limited to what you see here"

"Stables," E just below the surface "So you admit you treat them like animals?"

Lorraine studied Emma for a uard in the back "Course not," she said "These are high-performance assets They’re well fed, well rested, trained to perform under pressure, and pure as the driven snow Most have never touched so ot the papers to prove it in my office Or you could just ask the tube "Come tell these people how you like it here"

The little boy and girl got up and shuffled to theThe boy picked up the speaking tube "We like it here very much," he said robotically "Mairl "We like to do our work We …" She paused, trying to recall sootten "We like our work," she mumbled

Lorraine dismissed them irritably "And there you have it Now, I can let you test drive one or two more, but beyond that I’ll need some kind of down pay back at the overcoat man "The ones in your office" Her hands, clenched at her sides, were starting to go red I could see we needed to leave before things turned ugly Whatever inforht, and rescuing all these kids … well, as callous as it sounded, we had our own kids to rescue first

"Actually, that won’t be necessary," I said, then leaned in to Emma and whispered, "we’ll come back to help them We have to prioritize"

"The papers," she said, ignoring me

"No problem," Lorraine replied "Step intoand there was no unsuspicious way to stop her

Lorraine’s office was a desk and chair crammed into a walkin closet She had only just closed the door behind us when Eainst it Lorraine swore and shouted for Carlos but went quiet when Elowed hot as an oven coil On Lorraine’s blouse, two blackened handprints smoked where Erunt from the other side

"Tell him you’re fine," Emma said, her voice low and flinty

"I’ainst her back

"Tell hi now: "Get lost! I’ footsteps

"You’re being very stupid," Lorraine said "No one’s ever stolen frooing to answer some questions"

"About what?"

"Those people out there You think you own them?"

Lorraine’s brow furrowed "What’s this about?"

"Those people Those children You bought theht anyone"

"You bought the them You’re a slaver"

"That isn’t hoorks They caent"