 and scanned the room. She couldn't see through the shadows in the corners, but one figure caught her attention. Hope flared in her chest. An old covener—she couldn't remember his name. They hadn't parted on bad terms. Maybe he would talk to her.

Georgia drained the last of the bourbon and set the empty glass on the bar.

"Hello, Georgia."

Georgia flinched. Damn it. Of all the people she'd least wanted to see. She kept her friendly mask firmly in place, and turned to the man who had come up behind her. "Hey, Kristof."

His too-pale features were every bit as striking as she remembered. He cocked his head. "Haven't seen you in a while."

Georgia ground her teeth. "Yeah, funny thing; it's almost impossible to find out the anchor sites for this place nowadays. You wouldn't know anything about that, would you?"

Kristof shrugged with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "What can I say? My patrons appreciate discretion."

Georgia ignored the jab. "Look, I'm not here to cause problems. Really. I'm just looking for some information."

Kristof frowned. "You must be joking. This is an upscale establishment, not a...a..." He shook his head, as if to dispel whatever it was he'd been thinking. "Surely there's a more appropriate venue for...whatever it is you think you're doing."

Georgia lowered her voice. "Come on, Kris, cut a girl a break. You must have heard about those murders last week. I just want to find out what happened."

Kristof's eyes narrowed.

Georgia leaned forward. "What is it?"

Kristof opened his mouth.

"Georgia."

_Shit_. Georgia closed her eyes briefly. She'd know that baritone anywhere. She took a deep breath, and turned.

Darius stood—no, towered—behind her. On his arm was a waifish young woman with a face full of piercings and long blonde dreads. She looked familiar. Seeing Georgia watching, she gave his arm a squeeze.

_Bez_. Georgia's stomach hardened. She clenched her jaw, then unclenched it again. "Got to hand it to
and scanned the room. She couldn't see through the shadows in the corners, but one name overtake her attention. Hope flared in her chest. An honest-to-god covener — she couldn't remember his name. They hadn't parted on regretful terms. Maybe he would talk to her. 

 Georgia drain the last of the bourbon and set the empty looking glass on the bar. 

 " Hello, Georgia. " 

 Georgia flinched. curse it. Of all the people she'd least wanted to visualize. She kept her friendly mask firm in place, and turned to the man who had fall up behind her. " Hey, Kristof. " 

 His too - pale features were every bit as dramatic as she remembered. He cocked his head. " Haven't seen you in a while. " 

 Georgia ground her tooth. " Yeah, funny thing; it's almost impossible to find out the anchor sites for this plaza nowadays. You wouldn't know anything about that, would you? " 

 Kristof shrugged with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. " What can I say? My patrons appreciate discretion. " 

 Georgia ignored the jab. " search, I'm not here to cause problems. very. I'm barely looking for some information. " 

 Kristof frowned. " You must be joke. This is an upscale establishment, not a... a... " He shook his head, as if to dispel whatever it was he'd been intend. " Surely there's a more appropriate venue for... whatever it is you think you're doing. " 

 Georgia lowered her voice. " Come on, Kris, cut a daughter a break. You must have heard about those murders last workweek. I just desire to find out what happened. " 

 Kristof's eyes narrowed. 

 Georgia leaned forward. " What is it? " 

 Kristof open his mouth. 

 " Georgia. " 

 _ Shit _. Georgia closed her eye briefly. She'd know that baritone anywhere. She took a deep hint, and turned. 

 Darius stood — no, towered — behind her. On his arm was a waifish young charwoman with a face entire of piercings and long blond dreads. She looked conversant. Seeing Georgia watching, she gave his arm a squeeze. 

 _ Bez _. Georgia's abdomen hardened. She clenched her jaw, then unclenched it again. " Got to pass it to
 anf scanned the room. She cuuldn't see throogy the vhadowa in the corners, but one figure caugit hwr atuvntion. Hope flared in her chesn. An old xoveier—she couldn't rxjember mns najc. Thev iadn't parted on bad terms. Maybe he woulg gapk to her.

Georgia drained the last os the bpugbon and set tre ek[ty flass on the bar.

"Hello, Georgia."

Georgja flinbhed. Damn it. Of akl the people she'd least wwntef to see. She kept jer friendli mafj firmly in olace, and uuxned to the man who had come up behind her. "Hey, Lristof."

His tio-pwne features were every bit as strikitg as sne remembered. Me corked his head. "Haven't seen you in a while."

Geotgia groung ker teeth. "Yeah, funny rhung; ij's alkost umpussjbke to fijd kut the andhor sites dor this place nowacarw. You wouldn't know wnrthing about that, would you?"

Kristof shrucges with a smile that didb't quite reach his eygs. "What cag I say? My patrons appreciate discretion."

Georgia icnorev ghe jwc. "Llok, I'm not here to cause problems. Really. I'm jtat lpoking for somc information."

Kristpf ftjwned. "You musj be jokinf. This is an upscape estaflishnent, not w...a..." Hr shook his head, as if to duspel whatevvr ir was he'd been thiuking. "Surely thete's a kore appropriate venue yor...whafever it is you thini you're doing."

Georeia lmwered htf voice. "Come on, Kwis, cut a girk a brexk. Ypu muse have heagd about those murders lwst wgek. I bust want ho find out what happened."

Kristoh'x eyes narroeeg.

Gemrgia lecned fprward. "What if it?"

Kristof opgned his iouth.

"Eeorgia."

_Shin_. Georgia closed her eyes briefly. Dhe'd know thet baritoge abywhwre. She gook a deep brrath, and nuxned.

Dariuw stood—no, towered—bchind ger. On his arm ccs a waifish younb wumag aivh a sdce full of [ierzinex and long blondc dfeadx. She looked familias. Sesing Georgia watchonn, she gavg his arm a squeeze.

_Bez_. Georgia's stomach jardeied. Shx clenvheq her jaw, then unclenched it afain. "Got ho mand it to
and scanned the room. She couldn't see shadows the corners, one figure caught her An old covener—she remember his name. hadn't parted on bad terms. Maybe would talk to her. Georgia drained the last of the bourbon and set empty glass on the bar. "Hello, Georgia." Georgia flinched. Damn it. Of all people least to She kept her friendly mask firmly in place, and turned to the man who had come behind her. "Hey, Kristof." His too-pale features were bit as striking as remembered. He cocked his head. seen in a Georgia her "Yeah, funny thing; almost impossible to find out the anchor sites for this place nowadays. You wouldn't know anything about would you?" with a that quite his eyes. "What say? My patrons appreciate discretion." Georgia "Look, I'm not here to cause problems. Really. just looking some information." Kristof frowned. "You must joking. This is an upscale establishment, not a...a..." shook his head, as if to dispel whatever it was he'd been thinking. "Surely there's appropriate venue for...whatever it you think you're Georgia her "Come Kris, cut girl a break. You must have heard about those murders last I just want to find out what happened." Kristof's eyes leaned "What is it?" opened his mouth. "Georgia." Georgia her eyes briefly. She'd baritone She breath, turned. stood—no, towered—behind her. On arm was a waifish young with a face full dreads. She looked familiar. Seeing Georgia watching, she his arm a squeeze. _Bez_. Georgia's stomach She clenched her jaw, then unclenched it again. "Got to hand it
 and scanned the room. She couldN't see throuGh the ShaDowS iN the CornErs, but one figurE CaugHt her attention. Hope flarEd in hEr CHest. aN oLd covEner—she COuLDN't rEmEmBer HiS NaMe. TheY haDn't partEd on bad terMs. MAyBe he would talK To Her.

Georgia DraIned the last oF thE bourbOn And SEt the EmpTy glaSs on thE Bar.

"HelLo, Georgia."

geORgia flINched. DaMN It. of alL the people she'd leaST wANted to see. She kePt her fRiENdLY MasK fiRmly in placE, aNd turNEd to the MAn WHO Had COme up behind heR. "Hey, Kristof."

hIs tOo-pale FeAtuREs were Every BiT As sTriking as shE remEmbered. He Cocked HIs head. "HAVen't seeN you in A whIle."

georGIa GrOunD hER teETh. "yeaH, FunNy thing; iT's AlMost iMposSIBLE to fInd Out tHe ancHor sites for thIs pLace NOwaDays. YOu wouLdn't KnOw anyThing aBout tHaT, would you?"

KristoF shrUgged with A smIlE thAt Didn't QUite reAch His Eyes. "WhaT can I saY? my pAtRONS aPpreciate discretioN."

GEORgIa ignoreD the jaB. "loOk, i'M not here To CauSe prOBLems. REallY. i'm Just lookIng for SOmE iNformatIoN."

KristOf FroWneD. "You mUSt be Joking. this is an UpscaLE establishment, NOt a...a..." He shook hiS HeAD, As IF to dIspEl whatever iT was HE'd beEn thINkIng. "sUrely There'S a MOrE Appropriate venue for...WhAtever It is yOu think you're dOing."

GeorgiA LOWered her VoicE. "coME on, Kris, cut a girL a breAk. You must hAVe heard aBout tHose murdErs last weEK. i just wanT to FinD ouT whAT HaPpened."

Kristof'S EYes nArRowed.

GeOrgIa leaneD foRwaRd. "WHat Is It?"

Kristof Opened hiS mOuTh.

"geOrgIa."

_ShiT_. georgia cLoSed HeR eyEs briEFly. She'D know That BaRiTOne AnywherE. shE TOok a DeEp BreaTh, aNd TurneD.

DarIUs sTood—no, tOwered—behInd HEr. On HiS aRm was a wAifish young woMaN with a face FuLl oF piercINGs and lonG blonde dreads. She looked fAMiliar. SEeiNg GeoRgia Watching, sHe gAve his Arm A SqueezE.

_Bez_. GeOrgia'S sTomACH hardENEd. she ClEnched her jAW, TheN unclEnChed It again. "got to hand it to
 and scanned the room. She  couldn'tsee t hro ugh  t he s hado ws in the corn e rs,but one figure caughther a tt e ntio n .Hopeflaredi nh e r c he st . A no ld  cove ner —she co uldn't rem emb er  his name. T h ey  hadn't pa rte d on bad ter ms.  Maybe  h e w o uld t alk  to h er.

G e orgiadrained t he last o f  the bo u r bo n an d set the empty g l as s  on the bar.
"Hello ,G eo r g ia. "
Georgia fl in ched. Damn it .  O f a llt he people she 'd least wa n ted  to se e.  Sh e  kepther f ri e ndl y mask firm ly i n place,and tu r ned tot he manwho ha d c ome  upb eh in d h er .  "H e y,  Kr i sto f."

His  t oo -pale  fea t u r e s we reever y bit  as strikingassher eme mbere d. He  coc ke d his  head.  "Hav en 't seen you ina wh ile."

Ge org ia  gr ou nd he r  teeth . " Yea h, funn y thing ;  it 's a l mo st impossible to f in d ou t the an chor s i te sf or thispl ace  now a d ays.Youw ou ldn't kn ow any t hi ng  aboutth at, wo ul d y ou? "

Kr i stof  shrug ged with  a sm i le that didn't quite reach h i se y es .  "Wh atcan I say?My p a tron s ap p re cia t e dis creti on . "Georgia ignored the  j ab. "L ook,I'm not hereto cause p r o b lems. Re ally .  I ' m just looking  forsome infor m ation."
Kris tof frow ned. "You m ust be j oki ng.  Th isi s  a n upscale est a b lish me nt, not  a. ..a..."  He  sh ook  hi shead, asif to di sp el  w ha tev er it was he'd  b een  t hin king. "Surel y the re's  a  m o reappropr i at e venu efo r... wha te ver i t is you  thinkyou're do ing . "

G eo rg ia lowe red her voice ."Come on,Kr is,  cut a g irl a br eak. You must have hear d  abouttho se mu rder s last we ek.  I jus t w a nt tofind o ut wh at  ha p p ened. " 
K ris to f's eyes n a r row ed.
Ge orgi a leane d forward. "What i s  it ?"

Kristof o pen ed h i s  m out h ."Ge or g ia. " 
_Shit_. Georgi a closed h er ey es briefly .  Sh e' d knowthat ba riton e  anywhe re. She t ook a dee pbrea t h , a nd turned. 

Darius  stood—no ,  towe r ed —behi ndher. O nhis  armwas aw aif ish y oung w om an wit h a f ac e full o f piercings and long bl onde d reads . S he looked  fa m ili ar. Seein g Ge orgia watc hin g,she g ave his a rm a sq uee z e.

_ Bez_ .  Georgia' s  s tom a c hhardened. S h e cle nched  he r  jaw,then  unclenched it ag a in. "Got to ha nd i t to
 and_scanned the_room. She couldn't see_through the_shadows_in the_corners,_but one figure_caught her attention._Hope flared in her_chest. An old_covener—she_couldn't remember his name. They hadn't parted on bad terms. Maybe he would talk_to_her.

Georgia drained_the_last_of the bourbon and set_the empty glass on the_bar.

"Hello, Georgia."

Georgia_flinched. Damn it. Of all the people she'd_least_wanted to see._She kept her friendly mask firmly in place, and_turned to the man who had_come up behind_her._"Hey,_Kristof."

His too-pale features were_every bit as striking as she_remembered. He cocked his head. "Haven't_seen you in a while."

Georgia ground her_teeth. "Yeah, funny thing; it's almost_impossible to find out the_anchor sites_for this place nowadays. You_wouldn't know anything_about that,_would you?"

Kristof shrugged_with a smile that didn't quite_reach his eyes._"What can I say? My patrons_appreciate_discretion."

Georgia ignored the_jab._"Look,_I'm not_here to cause_problems._Really. I'm_just_looking for some information."

Kristof frowned. "You_must_be joking. This is an upscale establishment,_not a...a..." He shook_his_head, as if to_dispel whatever it was he'd_been thinking. "Surely there's a more_appropriate venue_for...whatever it_is you think you're doing."

Georgia lowered her voice. "Come on, Kris,_cut a girl a break. You_must have heard about_those murders_last_week. I just_want_to find_out what happened."

Kristof's eyes narrowed.

Georgia leaned forward._"What is_it?"

Kristof opened his mouth.

"Georgia."

_Shit_. Georgia closed_her eyes briefly. She'd_know_that baritone anywhere. She took a_deep breath, and turned.

Darius stood—no, towered—behind_her. On his arm was_a_waifish_young woman with a face_full of piercings and long blonde_dreads. She looked_familiar. Seeing Georgia watching, she gave his_arm_a squeeze.

_Bez_. Georgia's stomach hardened. She_clenched_her jaw, then unclenched it again._"Got_to_hand it to