Page 108 of The Advocate’s Ultimatum

Progress! Sabre hid her excitement. “Who doesn’t?”

Bay shook her head. “It doesn’t matter.”

“But it does.”

Another shake. Firmer this time. “No. It doesn’t.”

Sabre held her gaze. “It tells me how they move.”

Bay swallowed. “They don’t stay anywhere long.”

“Near highways?”

“No.”

“Truck stops?”

Bay’s eyes flicked up again. “No.”

“In houses or apartments?” Sabre asked.

A pause. “Mostly.”

“What’s the longest you ever stayed?”

“Two years.”

“How many do you protect?”

“We protect each other.”

“Does he protect you?”

“Yes.”

“But not this time?”

Bay swallowed, but didn’t respond.

Sabre pushed her chair back and stood. “We’re done for now.”

Bay looked surprised. “That’s it?”

“For today.”

Sabre turned toward the door.

“Wait,” Bay called.

Sabre turned back.

“If you tell Vale everything,” Bay said, her voice lower and tighter. “They’ll know.”

Sabre glanced back over her shoulder at Bay. “They already know,” she said.

A flash of fear in her eyes.

“That’s why we stop reacting,” Sabre added. “We start getting ahead of them.”