“You’ll have to tell him eventually,” said Linda. Then her eyes narrowed. “Oh, you’re sneaky.”

Kelly smiled. “Speaking of which …”

“Oh, you are a sneaky one.”

“… when are you going to tell him that you’re leaving the gang?”

“That was way too sneaky. You’ve got issues if you can be that sneaky to a friend. To your best friend, of all people.”

Kelly shrugged. “I’m just untrustworthy, what can I say?”

Kenneth came in and walked up to their table. “Can I get you anything else?” he asked.

“No, thank you,” said Kelly, giving him a big smile.

His eyes flicked to the tattoos that peeked out from beneath her jacket sleeve, and he sniffed and walked back the way he’d come.

“What a nice man,” Kelly said, then raised her eyebrows at Linda. “You haven’t answered my question, by the way.”

“I don’t know,” said Linda. “I guess I’ll tell him … soon. But what time is the right time? I mean, look at us. Look at where we are and what we’re dealing with. We actually crossed the country to be here and to do this. That’s not right. It’s not normal. Sane people run from bad situations, not to them.”

“No one ever said we were sane.”

“This is true,” said Linda, “but with me, I think it’s been a temporary insanity. I think I’m coming around to the idea of normal again. You know, after everything. After the Sol Foundation. After Boston.”

Kelly’s smile faded. “Yeah.”

“I’ll tell the other two when we’re done here,” Linda said. “The moment we get back on the road, no matter how this turns out. I just can’t do it anymore. You think I’m a coward?”

“No way,” Kelly said immediately.

“You think they will?”

“Not a chance. It’s gonna suck though, being the only girl in the van.”

“I’m sure you’ll pick up someone else to replace me. That’s how we work, right? We pick up strays along the way. What about the girl you were talking about, the one in jail? Think she’s mixed up in all this craziness?”

“I got the distinct impression. But her friend’s a little on the surly side. We’ll have to keep an eye out for them. We don’t know yet if they’re allies or enemies.”

“You’re so cynical,” said Linda. “When I first met you, you weren’t nearly this cynical.”

“When you first met me, I was covered in blood and going into shock,” said Kelly. “People change.” Her phone buzzed and she looked at it. “Oh shit.”

Linda’s face slackened. “What?”

“The kid, Austin Cooke,” said Kelly. “He’s gone missing.”