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I throw them in my pack, then walk across the street to one of the havens we set up.
I climb the fifteen flights of stairs and enter the apartment, pleased to find it empty.
After setting my packs down and grabbing a beer from the refrigerator, I take a seat at the radio.
Trent:This is Trent calling in from quadrant 2C.
Almost immediately,a coarse voice carries over the line.
Cole:Where the hell have you been?
Cole is neverone to dance around a topic.
Trent:I suffered a leg wound and couldn’t check in.
Cole:You good now?
Trent:Yeah, got myself stabbed, but I’m all bandaged up. I might need a few extra days before coming in.
Cole:Check ins are every ten days, and you’ve already missed one. I know you’re not in your quadrant. What the hell am I supposed to think?
Trent:I thought standard rules could be tabled on occasion.
Cole:You know as well as I do they’re put into place to make sure people aren’t compromised.
I knewhe was going to be a stickler about it. Every ten days we check in and are assigned a new quadrant, so we don’t grow too familiar with any of the local gangs that have developed.
It was a bitch when I’d wanted to see Susan, but I understood the reasoning behind it. These are bad times, and blind trust is a risk.
Of course it meant I had to sneak around a bit, but I would never compromise the Keep.
Cole:Care to tell me what else is going on?
Shit.The last thing I need is Cole in my business. But perhaps if he knows my dilemma, he’ll cut me some slack.
Trent:I found someone.
Cole:A woman?
Trent:Yep, with two ankle biters.
Cole:Need help bringing them in?
Trent:Not yet.
Cole:What do you mean by that?
Trent:It’s hard.
Cole:You don’t much like kids.
Trent:Correct.
Cole:Then why are you hesitating to have her brought in? I can think of quite a few guys that wouldn’t mind taking on her baggage.
I openmy mouth to speak, but no words come out. I’m angry that Cole would say that, but I shouldn’t be. He’s right.
Cole:Let me guess—you like her, but you don’t exactly appreciate the kids, do you?
