Chapter 16

           `Youtryin’tobreakmyrecord,son?’theFlatlineasked.`Youwerebraindeadagain,fiveseconds.’

           `Sittight,’Casesaid,andhitthesimstimswitch.

           Shecrouchedindarkness,herpalmsagainstroughconcrete.

           CASECASECASECASE.Thedigitaldisplaypulsedhisnameinalphanumerics,Wintermuteinformingherofthelink.

           `Cute,’shesaid.Sherockedbackonherheelsandrubbedherpalmstogether,crackedherknuckles.`Whatkeptyou?’

           TIMEMOLLYTIMENOW.

           Shepressedhertonguehardagainstherlowerfrontteeth.Onemovedslightly,activatinghermicrochannelamps;therandombounceofphotonsthroughthedarknesswasconvertedtoapulseofelectrons,theconcretearoundhercomingupghost-paleandgrainy.`Okay,honey.Nowwegoouttoplay.’

           Herhidingplaceprovedtobeaservicetunnelofsomekind.Shecrawledoutthroughahinged,ornategrilloftarnishedbrass.Hesawenoughofherarmsandhandstoknowthatsheworethepolycarbonsuitagain.Undertheplastic,hefeltthefamiliartensionofthintightleather.Therewassomethingslungunderherarminaharnessorholster.Shestoodup,unzippedthesuitandtouchedthecheckeredplasticofapistolgrip.

           `Hey,Case,’shesaid,barelyvoicingthewords,`youlistening?Tellyouastory...Hadmethisboyonce.Youkindaremindme...’Sheturnedandsurveyedthecorridor.`Johnny,hisnamewas.