“Yeah!” agreed Poppy. “Wish I’d thought of that! Takes some deep skill, though.”

“What do you call that thing?” My brain was on fire. The clicks and whirrs inside my head were the sounds of things falling into place. Some things, at least. Most of which I’d have to put off considering till later.

Poppy dropped into her comic know-it-all voice. “Dude! That there’s a serious compound crossbow with laser sight and automatic quiver. Weighs maybe five pounds. Custom built. Didn’t find ’em in stores, when there were stores. What is she, military?”

“Maybe.” That’d account for her getting around and her access to special weaponry.

But arrows? Wouldn’t a gun be easier?

I couldn’t put it all together. Like, had Hannah been following me all this time?

A second burning object cascaded from far above, trailing sparks and smoke, landing close enough to Julian to rouse a startled curse. From her listening post by the door, Hannah pivoted around the edge and into darkness. I recalled her dancer’s grace from that night on the street, not so long ago as it seemed, a few weeks really. Soon she was back, as silently as she’d left. She signaled me toward the lump of kids and Poppy to follow her. I made to object, but Hannah’s sharp glare stopped me cold. No question who was in charge. Anyway, I looked the least threatening, carried the least authority. Better if they’d brought Rivera, but I’d have to do. I bit my lip and eased over toward the kids while the roar of whoops and whistles from inside rose to a sustained crescendo and the pounding rhythm built, like an army on the march.

But where was Daniel?

The leaden dawn was as bright as it was going to get, enough for me to make out two, no . . . three pairs of frightened eyes tracking my cautious approach. At least they were alive. One lump turned out to be two small boys clinging so close, you could hardly tell which foot or arm belonged to who. The third, a girl, struggled to stand, failed, then hauled herself on hips and elbows up between me and the boys. One leg dragged limp behind her. Her stare was as hard as Hannah’s.

I spread open palms. “No worry. We’re here to help.”

Her gaze didn’t waver, but it softened a little. She was desperate to believe me.

I crouched just out of reach. “Hurt your leg?”

She flicked a glance at it, like it was someone else’s. “Must be broke.”