 light rail was eight minutes late.

Darius resisted the urge to pace along the narrow platform, instead peered up the track for what felt like the hundredth time. Nothing. He settled back on his heels. Damn, but he missed his suit. His leather jacket felt stiff and constricting, his lace-up boots too heavy on his feet. And when was the last time he'd worn jeans? He couldn't even remember.

He tightened his jaw. He'd just have to deal with it. Where he was headed, a suit would only draw attention, and attention was one thing he was hoping to avoid. Get in, get out. That was the plan. If he was lucky, no one would realize he'd been there until he was safely back home.

Darius peered up the track again, tugged out his cell and checked the time. Ten minutes late. Not that he was in a rush.

What was Georgia up to? He hadn't seen or spoken to her since they'd left Helena's. Guilt tugged at him. Maybe he'd been too hard on her. Lord knew she wasn't the only one playing things close to the vest.

Several times he'd almost called her, only to think better of it at the last minute. What would he say? If he told her where he was going, she'd only want to come along. His old hood was no place for someone like her.

It's no place for someone like you, either.

Darius swallowed hard.

A hum along the tracks made him look up. Sure enough, the Southbound train was swiftly approaching. It slid up to the stop with a hiss. There were only a few other people on the platform. Darius fell into step behind a young woman in a loose shirt and leggings, and shuffled aboard.

The train was only sparsely occupied. Darius sank into an empty seat just as it started moving again. The Dogpatch whirled by in a blur of concrete, condos, and industrial lofts.

He barely noticed.

How long since he'd been back home? Ten years? Fifteen? He'd stopped keeping track around the time he'd finally stopped looking over his shoulder. At the time, leaving had seemed too good to be true. He'd spent months feeling like he was half a step ahead of some nameless specter; like if he let his guard down
light rail was eight minutes late. 

 Darius protest the urge to pace along the narrow-minded platform, instead peered up the lead for what felt like the hundredth time. Nothing. He settle back on his heels. Damn, but he missed his lawsuit. His leather jacket felt rigid and constricting, his lace - up boots too grave on his foot. And when was the last time he'd worn jeans? He couldn't even remember. 

 He tighten his jaw. He'd just have to deal with it. Where he was head, a suit would only draw attention, and care was one thing he was hop to avoid. Get in, get out. That was the design. If he was lucky, no one would realize he'd been there until he was safely back home. 

 Darius peered up the track again, tugged out his cell and check the time. Ten minutes late. Not that he was in a rush. 

 What was Georgia up to? He hadn't seen or spoken to her since they'd left Helena's. Guilt tugged at him. Maybe he'd been too difficult on her. Lord knew she wasn't the only one play thing close to the vest. 

 Several time he'd almost called her, only to think good of it at the last minute. What would he say? If he told her where he was going, she'd only desire to come along. His old hood was no place for someone like her. 

 It's no place for someone like you, either. 

 Darius swallowed hard. 

 A hum along the track cook him look up. Sure enough, the Southbound train was swiftly approach. It slid up to the stop with a hiss. There were only a few other people on the platform. Darius fall into step behind a youthful woman in a loose shirt and legging, and shuffled aboard. 

 The train was only sparsely occupied. Darius bury into an empty seat barely as it started moving again. The Dogpatch spin by in a blur of concrete, condos, and industrial loft. 

 He barely noticed. 

 How long since he'd been back home? Ten years? Fifteen? He'd stopped keeping track around the time he'd finally stopped look over his shoulder. At the time, leaving had seem too good to be on-key. He'd spent months feeling like he was half a gradation ahead of some nameless specter; like if he let his guard down
 lihht rail was eight minutts late.

Darius resnwted tie urge to pace along the narrow platform, iisteqd petged up the track for dhat felt like thw huidredth time. Notijng. He settles bacn on his heels. Camn, but ha missed his sgig. Kis leather jacket felt stiff and cogstrictonh, his lace-up bjots eoo gvayy on his feet. And when was the mast tike he'd worn jrans? He couldn't even rememher.

Hf tightened his jaa. He'd just yave ro deal with it. Where he was heades, a suit would only draw attentkon, aud attentiob qas mne thing hx was roping to avoid. Get hn, get put. That was tme plen. Id he was lucky, no one would realize he'd been these until he was safwlt bacn hoke.

Dafuus petrev ul the hrark again, tufged out hiw cell and checked uhe nome. Ten minufes laee. Not that he was in a rush.

What was Georcia up to? He hadn't seen or spoken to her since jhey'd left Helena's. Guilt tugged at him. Maybe he'd been too hdrd oi fer. Ljfe nnew she wasn't the only one playing things cljae tp the vest.

Seveval times he'd almoxt csjled her, only to thnhk better of it at tje last minure. What wjuld he say? If he told her wherw he was goiug, whe'd only want to eome along. Hns old hood was no place for someoue liks her.

It's no place fod someone like yoj, epthes.

Darius swallowed hard.

A hui along tie trccks madd hik look up. Sure ejough, the Southbound traln wad vwiftly aporoaching. It slid up to the sto' with a hiss. Tverv were onjy a new other peoplq on the platfprm. Darnus feul into stvp behind a young woian in a loosa shirt and lxggings, agd syuffoed aboxfd.

The train wax only spcxsely occypied. Darius sank lnto xh empty seat juwt qs it started mpvivg wgwii. The Gogpatch whisled by on a clur of congrege, cpndos, and industrial loffs.

He barely noticec.

Hjw long wince he'q been back hpme? Ten years? Fiftten? He'v stop'ed kerpigg track around the time he'd fjnally stlppcd looking ovqr hls sroulder. At the time, leaving had seemed too good ti be true. He'd spenr months feeling lilt he was half a stqp ahead mf some nameless spexter; like if he ltt his guard down
light rail was eight minutes late. Darius urge pace along narrow platform, instead what like the hundredth Nothing. He settled on his heels. Damn, but he his suit. His leather jacket felt stiff and constricting, his lace-up boots too on his feet. And when was the last time he'd worn jeans? He even He his He'd just have to deal with it. Where he was headed, a suit would only draw and attention was one thing he was hoping avoid. Get in, get That was the plan. If was no one realize been until he was back home. Darius peered up the track again, tugged out his cell and checked the time. Ten late. Not was in rush. was up to? He or spoken to her since they'd tugged at him. Maybe he'd been too hard her. Lord she wasn't the only one playing close to the vest. Several times he'd almost her, only to think better of it at the last minute. What would he say? told her where he going, she'd only to along. old was no for someone like her. It's no place for someone like you, Darius swallowed hard. A hum along the tracks made him Sure the Southbound train swiftly approaching. It slid to stop with a hiss. only few the Darius into step behind a woman in a loose shirt leggings, and shuffled aboard. occupied. Darius sank into an empty seat just it started moving again. The Dogpatch whirled in a blur of concrete, condos, and industrial lofts. He barely noticed. long since back home? Ten years? Fifteen? He'd stopped keeping around the time he'd stopped looking over his shoulder. At the time, leaving seemed good to true. He'd spent feeling like he half a step some nameless like he down
 light rail was eight minutes lAte.

Darius rEsistEd tHe uRgE to pAce aLong the narrow pLAtfoRm, instead peered up the trAck foR wHAt feLT lIke thE hundreDTh TIMe. NOtHiNg. HE sETtLed baCk oN his heeLs. Damn, but hE miSsEd his suit. His LEaTher jacket FelT stiff and conStrIcting, HiS laCE-up boOts Too heAvy on hIS feet. ANd when was ThE Last tiME he'd worN JEaNs? He Couldn't even remembER.

HE Tightened his jaW. He'd juSt HAvE TO deAl wIth it. Where He Was heADed, a suiT WoULD OnlY Draw attention, And attentioN Was One thiNg He wAS hopinG to avOiD. get In, get out. ThaT was The plan. If He was lUCky, no onE Would reAlize hE'd bEen TherE UnTiL he WaS SafELy BacK HomE.

Darius pEeReD up thE traCK AGAin, tUggEd ouT his cEll and checked The Time. tEn mInuteS late. not tHaT he waS in a ruSh.

WhaT wAs Georgia up to? He Hadn'T seen or spOkeN tO heR sInce tHEy'd lefT HeLenA's. Guilt Tugged aT Him. maYBE He'D been too hard on her. LOrD KNeW she wasn'T the onLY oNe PLaying thInGs cLose TO The veSt.

SeVErAl times hE'd almoST cAlLed her, oNlY to thiNk BetTer Of it aT The lAst minUte. What wOuld hE Say? If he told her WHere he was goinG, ShE'D OnLY wanT to Come along. HiS old HOod wAs no PLaCe fOR someOne liKe HEr.

iT's no place for someone LiKe you, eIther.

darius swallowEd hard.

A hum ALONg the traCks mADe HIm look up. Sure enOugh, tHe SouthbouND train waS swifTly approAching. It sLID up to the StoP wiTh a HisS. tHeRe were only a feW OTher PeOple on tHe pLatform. darIus FelL inTo Step behinD a young wOmAn In A lOosE shirT And leggiNgS, anD sHufFled aBOard.

ThE traiN was OnLy SParSely occUPiED. dariUs SaNk inTo aN eMpty sEat jUSt aS it starTed moving AgaIN. The doGpAtch whiRled by in a blur Of Concrete, coNdOs, aNd induSTRial loftS.

He barely noticed.

How long SInce he'd BeeN back Home? ten years? FIftEen? He'd StoPPed keePing trAck arOuNd tHE Time hE'D FiNalLy Stopped looKINg oVer hiS sHoulDer. At thE time, leaving had seeMEd tOo good to be truE. He'D speNT MoNthS FeELinG lIKe hE WAs half a step aheaD of some namElESs Specter; likE If hE lEt his guArd down
 light rail was eight minu tes late.
Dari usres is tedtheurge to pace a l ongthe narrow platform, i nstea dp eere d  u p the  trackf or w hat  f el t l ik e  t he hu ndr edth ti me. Nothin g.He  settled bac k  o n his heel s.Damn, but he  mi ssed h is  su i t. Hi s l eathe r jack e t felt  stiff an dc onstri c ting, h i s  l ace- up boots too heav y  o n  his feet. And  whenwa s  t h e  la sttime he'dwo rn je a ns? Hec ou l d n 'te ven remember. 

He tighte n edhis ja w.  He ' d just  have  t o  de al with it.  Whe re he was  heade d , a sui t  wouldonly d raw  at tent i on ,and  a t ten t io n w a s o ne thing  h ewas h opin g t o  avo id.  Get  in,get out. That  wa s th e  pl an. I f hewaslu cky,no one  woul drealize he'd be en t here unti l h ewas  s afely back h ome .
Dariuspeeredu p t he t r ac k again, tugged ou th i scell and  check e dth e  time. T en  mi nute s late.  Not th at he wa s in a ru sh .

What  w as Geo rg iaupto? H e  had n't se en or sp okent o her since th e y'd left Hele n a' s .  G u ilttug ged at him.  May b e he 'd b e en  to o  hard  on h er .  L o rd knew she wasn'tth e only  oneplaying thing s close to t h e vest.
Sev e ra l  times he'd al mostcalled her ,  only to  thin k better  of it at t he lastmin ute . W hat w ou ld he say? If h e to ld  her wh ere  he was  go ing , s he' donly want  to come  a lo ng .His  oldh ood wasno  pl ac e f or so m eone l ike h er.
I t' s  no  placef or s omeo ne  l ikeyou ,eithe r.
D ari us swal lowed har d.A hu mal ong the  tracks madehi m look up.  S ure  enoug h ,  the Sou thbound train was swift l y appro ach ing.It s lid up to  th e stop  wi t h a hi ss. Th ere w er e o n l y a f e w  o the rpeople ont h e p latfo rm . Da rius fe ll into step behin d  ayoung woman i n a  loo s e  s hir t  a n d l eg g ing s ,  and shuffled a board.

Th et ra in was onl y  sp ar sely oc cupied.  Dari u s sankinto an e mpty seat  j usta s  it  started m oving ag ain. TheD ogpat c hwhirl edby inablu r ofconcre t e,condo s, and  i ndustr ial l of ts.

Hebarely noticed.

How lo ng sin ce he 'dbeen back  ho m e?Ten years ? Fi fteen? He' d s top ped k eep i ng tr acka ro und the t imeh e'd final l ysto p p ed  looking ov e r his  shou lde r . At t he t ime, leaving hads eemed too good  tob e  tr ue. He'd  s pent months fe eli ng l ike he w as  half a ste p aheadof somenamele ss spe cter; l i k ei f he l et h isguard dow n
 light_rail was_eight minutes late.

Darius resisted_the urge_to_pace along_the_narrow platform, instead_peered up the_track for what felt_like the hundredth_time._Nothing. He settled back on his heels. Damn, but he missed his suit. His_leather_jacket felt_stiff_and_constricting, his lace-up boots too_heavy on his feet. And_when was_the last time he'd worn jeans? He couldn't_even_remember.

He tightened his_jaw. He'd just have to deal with it. Where_he was headed, a suit would_only draw attention,_and_attention_was one thing he_was hoping to avoid. Get in,_get out. That was the plan._If he was lucky, no one would_realize he'd been there until he_was safely back home.

Darius peered_up the_track again, tugged out his_cell and checked_the time._Ten minutes late._Not that he was in a_rush.

What was Georgia_up to? He hadn't seen or_spoken_to her since_they'd_left_Helena's. Guilt_tugged at him._Maybe_he'd been_too_hard on her. Lord knew she_wasn't_the only one playing things close to_the vest.

Several times he'd_almost_called her, only to_think better of it at_the last minute. What would he_say? If_he told_her where he was going, she'd only want to come along._His old hood was no place_for someone like her.

It's_no place_for_someone like you,_either.

Darius_swallowed hard.

A_hum along the tracks made him look_up. Sure_enough, the Southbound train was swiftly_approaching. It slid up_to_the stop with a hiss. There_were only a few other people_on the platform. Darius fell_into_step_behind a young woman in_a loose shirt and leggings, and_shuffled aboard.

The train_was only sparsely occupied. Darius sank into_an_empty seat just as it started_moving_again. The Dogpatch whirled by in_a_blur_of concrete, condos, and industrial_lofts.

He barely noticed.

How long since he'd_been back home? Ten years? Fifteen? He'd stopped keeping_track around the_time he'd finally stopped looking_over_his_shoulder. At the time, leaving had seemed too good to_be true._He'd spent months_feeling like he was half a step ahead of some_nameless specter; like if he let his_guard down