“I am in harmony with that, Magpie,” said Belle.

“Plan B would be to just go in and cut some throats.”

“Again, this is a good plan.”

They smiled at each other, though both of them knew neither plan was ever going to be approved. Knowing part of what the enemy was doing was not enough. Sure, a powerful and direct military action could take out this camp, even with the Fixers and their fighting suits and body armor. But what if this wasn’t the only camp? What if this was only one of many such camps? What if taking this place out would cause the other camps to go into hiding? What then?

The answer to each question was the same.

And it was a terrifying answer.

CHAPTER 120

HOTEL TIMIȘOARA

TIMIȘOARA, ROMANIA

I found him in the last hotel room.

Of course not the second or third. The fourth.

I opened the door and there he was. On the bed. Unmoving.

My heart sank.

“No!” I cried and ran to him, flung myself onto the mattress and pulled him to me. He came. Limp, boneless, eyes half-open, tongue lolling.

I pressed my head to his chest, praying that for once the universe wasn’t that completely cruel. Kill me. Don’t hurt Ghost. He’s a dog. Dogs are pure love. They are mean if we make them mean, and they’re not if we love and care for them.

I listened to the vast nothing inside his chest.

And then …

The slow, steady thump … thump … thump.

It was only later—much later—after holding him for a long time, that I found the fragments of the Sandman dart pasted to the fur on his shoulder.

Where I, in my deepest darkness, had shot him.

CHAPTER 121

ARKLIGHT SAFE HOUSE

BERLIN, GERMANY

Toys stood looking out the window, hands in his pockets, shoulders slumped, head bowed.

“You’ve been there for hours,” said Violin. “Come and sit. Have some breakfast.”

He shook his head.

Harry, who was at the stove pushing globs of eggs, onions, and diced potato around a pan, leaned close to her and in a confidential tone said, “What’s his beef? He doesn’t even like Joe.”

“Hush, Harry,” she said and walked out of the kitchen and went to stand by Toys.

After a few minutes, he said, “If you’re going to give me a lecture, don’t.”

“Why would I lecture you?”

He turned his head and looked at her.