reakersinastandoffoutsidele.

atthetime,harryhadbeengratefultoseeatextbooktehniqueexeutedsowendratherruthlessly.butasheapproahedthedoorsofthedmle,herealizedhe’dprobablynevergetahaneataproperinterrogationhimself.

“goodm,”avoierang.totheleftoftheentrane,harryreognizedoneoftheiigatorsthatinterviewedhimatthehotel.stramitz,maybe?shewasleaningagainstthewall,asuallyholdingahalfgoneigarette.harryfounditanoddoinidenesineshewasthepersonhewasomingtosee.

“ihavesomeinformationforyou,”harrysaid,andthenregrettedit.hekeptfettinghewasaquestionablelow-lifeandsomeheiigatorswouldlikelydistrust,ause,orevenjail.

stramitzsmiled.“ibetyoudo.”

harryfollowedherthroughthemainentrane,downarowdedhallwayfilledwithpreoupiedaurorsrushingaround,untiltheyreahedanoffieatthebakofthebuilding.

“hereweare,”shesaidandledhiminside.hebrieflynotiedstramitz’spartnerbeforeafamiliarfiguretotheleftaughthiseye.harryturnedsofastandblinkedthathealmostfellover.

“ron?”

hisbestfriendstoodtoanemptydesk,armsrossed,withalookofhopelessnessharryhadn’tseenonron’sfaesheirshooldays.hewasgivingharrythedejetedstareheusedtogiveessayshe’domeupshorton.“har—haveyoulostyourbloodymind?”ronstammered,andharrywassurehe’dalmostsaidharry’sname.hissuspiionwasonfirmedwhenron,visiblyanxious,addedanawkward,“arhie?”

harryopenedhismouthtospeak,buthereallydidn’tknowwheretostart.hadrongottenhisowlyet?harrylookedbetweenstramitzandherpartnerbeforehedeideditwassafetoask.“isentmisterwazlibaletterthism.”