The elevator stopped on the top floor and the bronze doors opened. The café was beautiful, with an amazing view off the twenty-foot building. Allison led him to a table by the edge of the roof. He almost felt vertigo, glancing down the side of the building in the bright sunlight. Everything was so much brighter than he remembered but just as beautiful. 497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mN3Frpu6C
8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyyVYEn5yE 維尼
"Hello Tex," a waitress said. "Who's the new guy?" 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡTA5xeuOedK 維尼
"Jennifer, this is David," Allison said. "David, Jennifer. He's on my team, a General Catcher." 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡtE6NsINAoh 維尼
"I'm from Parle City, volunteering this week," Jennifer said, gesturing to her gold tag. "Consulting Detective." 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZEDXlDg8Q 維尼
"So there isn't always this many people?" Carson asked. 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJxDUTNL0b 維尼
"Every break, I'm here," Jennifer said. "It's the safest place to be since we take care of our own." 497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpfL99pjzc
8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHzZQD35C6 維尼
"You'll be right at home here, David," Allison reassured. "I'll have a coffee. And you?" 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qkdIaDWRd 維尼
Carson coughed. "Um, a bagel?" 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqVqeGqgEc 維尼
"I'll be right back," Jennifer said, walking back to the café's bar. 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4v0u9jeMF 維尼
It's okay, Officer, Goldie said. The world is a strange place, but it's the same world you've been in this whole time. 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73AOys8ROe 維尼
That's so helpful, Carson bit back sarcastically. This world was never safe, as far as I remember. 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡLk2flciyZG 維尼
You're doing just fine, Goldie reassured. 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡalETOO0OGI 維尼
"So tell me, David, why are you here?" Allison finally asked. 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡriIE2MzGec 維尼
"Tex, I'm sorry," Carson said. "It was an accident, I swear–" 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6eRL2SrVJ 維尼
"No apologizing," Allison said flat out. "You're already here. Apologizing won't bring them back." 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3S8pYpIz8z 維尼
"Oh, of course," Carson replied, taking a deep breath. 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFxryuLPtn 維尼
It's okay, Goldie said suddenly. I don’t think she's going to kill you. In fact– 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21PvikU3nw 維尼
Shut up! Carson screamed internally. He was still getting used to Goldie and all her souls trying to offer him advice. "It was Goldie Rose, my most recent case." 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLtfdW2PGv 維尼
"The 'missing' one?" Allison asked. "Makes sense. That was a smart move. It won't raise any alarms." 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8QBzxKWEe 維尼
"What about you?" Carson asked. 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dNJmi0ZvW 維尼
Just then, Jennifer returned with Allison's coffee and Carson's "bagel." It wasn't an old-world bagel, but Carson was pretty sure those didn't exist anywhere anymore. 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAuBkfrWu8 維尼
"I'm from the war," Allison said after Jennifer left. "I was a marine in the USA, fighting for all that government stood for. During the war, I killed enough high stakes targets to make me practically immortal." Allison tensely laughed, taking a sip of coffee. "I guess you could say the vets from the war are the biggest Time Thieves." 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqLGAYxPQz 維尼
"Wow," Carson breathed. "I would have never guessed. You don't have the look." 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTLJeIBTJa 維尼
Allison chuckled. "You know, the look is a myth. But yes, we can teach you how to lose the look that some Catchers associate with Time Killers. How long are you staying?" 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡEq2ndf8k5C 維尼
"Two weeks," Carson said. 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡhK5GfHwEwY 維尼
"That should be enough time for you to take some courses from our retired TKCs, the ones with the silver name tags," Allison said. "If you need any more time here, just let me know." 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZgLnVf3zy 維尼
"Great!" Carson said. Maybe he could learn to blend, to get used to life before he was back to pretending. 497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2OqLWPyml
8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVjU0wnvwD 維尼
"Oh, how are you coping with the voice?" Allison asked 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3b7nKtzAnZ 維尼
What about your promise? Goldie asked. 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGu8hR4IRj 維尼
"I can't make her go away," Carson sighed. "And I have a problem." 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡniaBwH3Xuw 維尼
Well, you're doing great so far, Goldie said. Don't worry about me. He drowned her voice in his bagel. 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAtGsyq19s 維尼
"After a month or so, the voice will fade. She'll get bored and she'll only respond when you call her." 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOtXPtSSra 維尼
"That's not the only problem," Carson admitted. "I promised someone I'd revive their girlfriend." 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1QfE8U2rT 維尼
"What?" Allison gawked. "You do know that means you'll have to kill someone? A life for a life." 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzWUXSFyoe 維尼
Carson nodded. "I know, but that was the only way I could find this place. Help me, please." 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4oUPsEoTmU 維尼
Allison sighed, finishing her coffee. "Do it quietly. If you are caught, even I cannot save you. And whatever you do, do not commit suicide." 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfmdcwgTOR 維尼
It was Carson's turn to be surprised. "What?" 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡduuJ7Ose1u 維尼
"With all this time, committing suicide will only send all of it flying out in an explosion," Allison explained. "I suppose those scientists were up to something there." 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2FtSqndJ1 維尼
Carson popped in the last bite of his bagel. "Wait. So you're okay with it. More killing?"8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8GcZzs2bV 維尼
"Well, pick a prolific Time Killer, obviously," Allison said. "It'll be another missing, I guess. I mean, never anger a murderer. That would be the stupid option." Allison stood up and paid the bill. 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSF3KfDWFQ 維尼
"Oh, yeah, of course," Carson said, following her to the elevator. "So I'll go back to work?" 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡdP7gKt3vS9 維尼
"Yes, but before that, we need to discuss housing," Allison said. "You going to stay at the Ephemera for your two weeks?" 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iV2NxMwP5 維尼
Carson shrugged. "Maybe? I guess, yeah." The elevator dinged and they got in. 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3mnlSaBTu 維尼
Allison pressed the tenth floor. "Let's go organize that," Allison said. The door closed in front of them, the bronze showing their reflections. Allison, the strong, confident blonde. Carson, the nervous, dark haired cop. 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJ37cMGdsu 維尼
"Don't worry," Allison said. "You're going to make the best of this." 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5xD4eiFhx 維尼
That night, Carson sat awake on his new bed in his new room, the room he was going to have for the next two weeks. Allison had signed him up for a few "beginner" classes for his time there. She had assured him, again, that things were going to be all right. 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡqx8XdUcFmw 維尼
The world is a strange place, buddy, Goldie said. 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBLcKT4mvP 維尼
"You will soon be gone," Carson replied. "That's what Tex said." 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2469MsxOnu 維尼
Not gone, Goldie argued. Bored. And you know I never imagined you'd be so boring. 497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zmwgl71dg
8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcA0HrOnM1 維尼
"That's reassuring that you're not doing anything weird to my body," Carson sighed. "I can't believe it. Actual murder." 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPQuSyqJaH 維尼
It's just a trade, Goldie reassured. Just pick someone totally despicable. Then you'd be doing a great service to the world. 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡyElez1D7qq 維尼
"Shut up. I need some sleep. It's been a long day." 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡij3ZA6VhbD 維尼
I agree. Night-night, Officer, Goldie replied. 497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCpLSACLVw
8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡojvmhaX6IU 維尼
"You are such a bag of kittens, aren't you, Goldie?" Carson jested. 497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1gOfpALGx
8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTLqL9bUCT 維尼
No, my girlfriend's the cat, Goldie clarified. Oh, I miss dear Fauny so much. I wonder what's she's doing without me. 8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡvzRfOcbTby 維尼
Ah, yes. She wears the cat ears, Carson realized before drifting into dreams. 497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNztgSIt800
8964 copyright protection493ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwoqxGR0a2 維尼
