“Let's take my truck," Jim said as he hit the gravel. "Less noise."And it has a radio, right?" With tragic concentration Adrian started warming up his voice, sounding like a moose being backstroked by a chesse grater.Jim shook his head at Eddie as the doors opened "How can you stand that racket?"Selective deafness"Teach me,master.”

“There was a heavy, dark pause of vast significance.Which Jim broke by flashing his hands and belting out, “Booga-wooga!”At least Eddie laughed. Adrian flipped Jim the bird and headed to the fridge for another beer.”

“He swiveled his head towards Eddie. "Tell me how to get over to the Four Lads. Do I have to die again?"If he did, he had a Beretta on him and he knew what kicking the bucket from a gunshot was like. Snore."Don't bother." Adrian cracked his knuckles. "They're not going to tell you anything. They can't."What the fuck? "I thought I worked for them.""You work for both sides, and they've given you all the help they can."Jim looked back and forth between the two angels. Each of them had the tight expression of a guy with a shoestring noosing up his balls."Help?" he said. "Where's my goddamned help?""They gave you us, asshole," Adrian snapped. "And that's all they can do--I've already gone over and asked them who's supposed to be next. I figured it would help you, you ungrateful bastard.”

“That's where you come in. I want into that guy's mind, and you need to tell me how to do it."Ad shrugged. "Personally, I'd just use a hacksaw, but—""There are potential consequences and side effects," Eddie said carefully."Like what?""Well, worst case... he could end up like Adrian.”

“In a quiet voice, he said, "How long's this been going on for you? With her."John took out a small pad he'd brought with him and wrote: Since the moment I first met her.After Rehv read the scribble, he frowned. "She feel the same way?"John did not drop his eyes as he shook his head. No sense hiding shit. Not with a symphath.Rehv nodded once. "That's so like her. Goddamn it...okay, let's do this.”

“How'm I doin'?" Jim asked in his own voice—hey, he could talk out of the bastard's mouth, too.Across the way, Adrian shrugged. "Pretty damn good—I can't sense you. But I gotta ask—the pair of you want a cigarette? Or are you going for a twofer?”

“Butch, let me help you."He cursed. "What if-""What ifs don't cut it." She took a deep breath. "I won't lie. I'm scared. But I don't want to turn my back on you and you're a fool to try and make me."He shook his head, respect in his eyes. "You always been this courageous?""No. But it appears that for you, I guess I am. So are you going to let me in?""I want to. I feel like I need to.”