then he had pulled the rug out from under me and walked away . and more than that , a stranger who had lost face . i 'm impressed and terrified at the same times . picking up the woman 's , he lifted my right hand . they 'd traveled this route before , and it had n't worked . `` cassie , darling , you 're better than this . '' he took nightingale through the door , down a corridor and through a fire exit . its gaze was fixed intently on the side entrance to the lab . 