Ray nodded. “Income taxes. Yeah. That’s an interesting topic. But let’s put a pin in that one and come back to it later.”

Huginn or Muninn said, “Why the sudden interest in Detective Black?”

“I just, um…” Don’t think about the baby. Don’t think about it. Don’t think about pitchfork tines and people tearing into a twitching infant on iron spikes and desperately needing to pull out people’s guts. Don’t don’t don’t. Just don’t. “I, uh, I was just wondering if he saw anything weird when he was over there.”

Quick as a rifle shot, the twin agents exchanged a look. The dog stood taller, its ears swiveling toward her like a pair of fuzzy radar dishes.

Ray glanced toward the barn again. The penny dropped. He slapped a palm to his forehead as though he’d just had a flash of insight.

“Oh. Got it. You went back to loot the casino, tossing the money in the barn as you went.” He spoke to her, but looked at the others while he did. “You went back to Talas and something happened while you were there…”

One of the twins spoke again, his screechy voice pitched lower. “What happened in Talas, Ms. Steunenberg?”

Mollie shrugged. The wind tugged at her scarf. The loose end flopped over her shoulder. She didn’t bother to hide her throat. Or wipe her watery eyes. “I dunno. Just some majorly fucked-up stuff.”

She concentrated on breathing, filling her lungs with one long shuddery breath.

Ray said, quietly, “You witnessed some serious stuff going down. Different from the fight club. Worse. Right?”

Mollie nodded. Sniffled. She didn’t bother to deny it. For one thing, she was too busy trying and failing not to weep, not to fall apart into a blubbering mess. And for another, these assholes knew more than she did about what happened. And that was somewhat reassuring.

One of the twins asked, “And is what you witnessed in Talas related to what happened here?”

She couldn’t talk. Her throat was too tight; her face was beet red now, she knew, for she burned with shame and fear. All she could do was keep nodding.

“Oh, my God,” said Ray. The SCARE agents studied their surroundings again, looking slightly jumpy. The dog growled at the barn, fur bristling. Their agitation was less reassuring.

“It’s over. It passed,” she sobbed. “Why are you guys here, anyway? If you came to arrest me you’re taking your sweet time. Do you understand what’s going on?”

Ray sighed like somebody who very much disliked what he knew. “Yeah. Sort of,” he said. “Things are not good right now. And we need your help.”