Chapter 10

           Thetransportwasastripped-downversionoftheonethathadgivenmetherideouttoSuntouchHouse,anditwasnoisyinthecabin.Ortegahadtoshouttomakeherselfheardabovetheengines.

           "We’llputinasniffersquad,butifhe’sconnectedhecangetstuffthat’llchangehisbody’schemicalsignaturebeforedawn.Afterthat,we’redowntowitnesssightings.StoneAgestuff.Andinthispartoftown…"

           Thetransportbankedandshegestureddownatthewarrenofstreetsbelow."Lookatit.Licktown,theycallit.UsedtobecalledPotrerowayback.Theysayitwasanicearea."

           "Sowhathappened?"

           Ortegashruggedinhersteellatticeseat."Economiccrisis.Youknowhowitis.Onedayyouownahouse,yoursleevepolicy’spaidup,thenextyou’reonthestreetlookingatasinglelifespan."

           "That’stough."

           "Yeah,isn’tit,"saidthedetectivedismissively."Kovacs,whatthefuckwereyoudoingatJerry’s?"

           "Gettinganitchscratched,"Igrowled."Anylawsagainstit?"

           Shelookedatme."Youweren’tgettinggreasedinJerry’s.Youwerebarelyintheretenminutes."

           Iliftedmyownshouldersandmadeanapologeticface."Youeverbeendownloadedintoamalebodystraightoutofthetank,you’llknowwhatit’slike.Hormones.Thingsgetrushed.PlaceslikeJerry’s,performanceisn’tanissue.