“That was quick,” Jake muttered.

“Empire has ship-to-shore. Cass probably radioed him the minute she left the Lagoon.”

“Let me just grab a bite. I’ll join you upstairs.”

“Good luck with that. The kitchen’s near packed up.” Rousseau shrugged wearily and strode off through the crowd.

I was still fuzzy about the time. When had Jake and Cass gone uptown? He might not know about Rubio. As he pushed toward the Mess, I snatched at his elbow. The moment he saw me, he opened his arms. He knew. I walked into a long, sad hug.

“Glim, Glim, I can’t believe we lost our guy! Who am I going to argue with now? Who’s going to keep me awake tossing and turning above my head?”

I mumbled agreement into his chest, fighting off a new bout of weeping.

“ ‘One woe doth tread upon another’s heels, so fast they follow.’ ” Jake let me go and draped an arm across my back. “Hardest on you, sweetie. My tier-mate, yeah, but he was your best bud. How are you holding up?”

“Best I can.”

“Once we’re safe in the new home he found us, we’ll throw him one hell of a wake! On my honor!”

I sniffed and fussed at my eyes. “He’d like that.”

“Walk with me. Let’s see how Spunk is doing.”

“Upriver already, with the medics.”

“Yeah? He’s okay, then.”

“Okay enough. But which of his nine lives is he on now?”

Jake laughed. “Only Spunk knows for sure. Eat with me? Or should I say, scrounge?”

“Thanks. I would, but I got to see about Jenn. She’s acting up.”

“Now what?”

“Doesn’t want to leave.”

He frowned. “What makes her think she has a choice?”

“She’s not thinking. That’s the problem.”

“Well, get up there and tell her to get her shit together! If anyone can talk sense into her, you can.”

“Thanks. Do my best.” I started away, then turned back, remembering. “Jake, you hear anything uptown about what the Stormies are up to?”

His eyebrows arched. “Huh. Lot of people asking the same. Seems no one’s seen them in a while, not even around that armory they took over. Which is odd, since a big storm usually brings them out. It’s like they’ve dispersed and gone to ground. Like, since Dan, um . . . had his way with the Adders.”

Had to think for a minute. How long ago was that? Mere days. And already I’d sectioned it off in the Do Not Go There part of my brain. “What does it mean?”

“Damned if I know. Nothing good, you can be sure. Now, go on up and deal with Jenn. And don’t forget: one hell of a fucking wake!”

“Right.” I squeezed his arm and loped away to the stairs.