(lxxxi.)

"Okay, no. That's not how this works. We're going to go inside, and we're going to arrest the bastard."
"Wait, wait. Why didn't we do this before?"

The District Coordinator just sighed.

"Honestly?"
"Yeah, I mean, if we arrested this Brandenbury guy at the beginning, we wouldn't have this problem now, right?"
"Okay. I'm going to tell you a secret. Can you keep secrets?"

Louis nodded.

"Good. Chet is scared of Lorelei."
"Why?"
"It... it's a long story. A really, really long, unpleasant story, but--"
"Is that why he's was gonna have us look for her in D.C, but then turned around and was like, 'no, go get that other guy'?"
"Pretty much."

There was a silence.

"So, how do you want to do this?"
"What d'ya mean?"
"You wanna kick it down? Shoulder into it? Shoot the lock? I mean--"
"I dunno. He's prolly got a chain. Or one of those bar things that you prop up against the door--"
"Oh yeah. But you can get around it, right?"
"Sometimes."

There was a click, and the door creaked open.

"Can I help you?"



[chapter lxxxii.]