Complete the process of regeneration. Shriek awake. An image of everything happening in reverse. Of corpses getting up, walking backward to wherever they’d come from. Unliving their lives. Becoming children. Forgetting how to walk. Returning and returning and returning until they were gone. Never seeing Shriek or the dead gray cap. Never having to kill anyone, for any reason.

“What then?” Finch asked.

“You will give him the piece of metal. He’ll know what to do. Afterward, he’ll leave it behind and you will take the piece of metal with you. And I will come to get it from you.

“Just know that in all of this you must be fast. You won’t have much time. You’ll get in because you work for them. And that still means something. For a day or two, at least. They’ve had distractions thrown at them all day. Dividing their attention. But you can’t count on that. We don’t have eyes or ears inside of that apartment complex. Too risky. They’d find their way back to the Lady.”

“And what do I do then? Confess all? Throw myself on the mercy of the gray caps?”

Bliss shrugged. “If you have to, give yourself up, yes. If all goes well, you won’t have long to wait. We’ll be watching. But there’s always that risk.”

Up close, what appeared immaculate about Bliss was actually shopworn, threadbare. His pants. His shoes. A button missing on the jacket. Was it noble or sad that he was still out in the field, running games, networks, schemes?

“Who are you, really?” Finch asked.

The old eyes stared out from the well-preserved face. “Any spy worthy of the name would figure that out. Any spy. For anyone.”

Bliss came around the table, too fast for Finch to warn him off. Then stood there looking at Finch.

“Sometimes you have to take a leap into the unknown, John. Sometimes you just have to trust that, plan or no plan, you have limited control over the situation. Now, it’s almost dusk. Leave when it’s dark. Take the route you think gives you the most cover. That means people, Finch. Lots of confused, frightened people. Not back alleys. They can see a lone man. A crowd’s more difficult, even for them. But stay away from Partial checkpoints. They’re on edge, and that means they’re more dangerous and less predictable. Even with your badge.”

Finch felt for a moment out of his league, Bliss growing in stature with each word. Had nothing to say in return.

Bliss took something out of his pockets. Put it on the table. “Last thing. Sandwiches. Eat before you leave. And don’t go back up to your apartment. It isn’t safe.”

“But I have to change. I’m covered in blood.”

Bliss’s expression was grim. “You’ll fit in better that way.”