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Edilio did not look happy about that instruction. But he nodded and left.
Dekka watched him go. “Edilio’s a good guy,” she said.
“But?”
“But, he’s a normal.”
“There aren’t going to be lines like that, between freak and normal,” Sam said firmly.
Dekka almost, but didn’t quite, laugh. “Sam, that’s a great concept. And maybe you believe it. But I’m black and I’m a lesbian, so let me tell you: From what I know? Personal experience? There are always lines.”
NINETEEN
18 HOURS, 35 MINUTES
THEY DROVE THE SUV through the hole in the fence, veered around the twisted mess of chain link, and raced to a skidding halt in the parking lot of the power plant.
The sheer size of the power plant was intimidating. The containment towers were as tall as skyscrapers. The big turbine building was blank and hostile, like a giant windowless prison.
A door, almost insignificantly small, stood open. No light shone from inside, but Caine could make out a shape crouching within.
“Hey! What are you doing here?” a young voice challenged.
Caine didn’t recognize the kid, couldn’t really see him. The plant was very loud, so Caine pretended he couldn’t hear. He cupped a hand to his ear and yelled, “What?”
“Stop! Don’t come any closer.”
“Come closer? Okay.” Caine kept walking. Diana and Jack hung back, but Drake was striding quickly to catch up. Drake had an automatic pistol in his real hand. His whip slithered and squirmed at his side, a snake anxious for a chance to strike.
“Stop! I said stop!”
The doorway was just a hundred feet away now. Caine never faltered.
“Stop, or I’ll shoot,” the voice cried, scared, almost begging.
Caine stopped. Drake stood beside him.
“Shoot?” Caine demanded, sounding puzzled. “Why on earth would you shoot me?”
“That’s we’re opposed to do.”
Caine laughed. “You can’t even say it right. Who are you, anyway? If you’re going to shoot me, I should know your name.”
“Josh,” the answer came. “It’s me, Josh.”
“It’s ‘me Josh,’” Caine mimicked.
Drake snarled, “You better step off, me Josh, or me Whip Hand is going to hurt you.”
The sudden explosion of bullets was deafening. Josh’s firing was wild, bullets shattering the glass of parked cars far off to their right.
Caine dropped to the pavement.
Drake never flinched. He raised his pistol, took careful aim, and fired.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
With each shot he advanced a step.
