Page 97 of Lethal Game

“The team can mind the store. You and I are going to get the samples.”

Len met them just outside the hospital tent with a crooked smile. “What did you say to Blairmore? He’spissedat you.”

“He’s a pansy ass who’s trying to make way too many people happy.”

“Truth.” Len waved them in. “Don’t drink and drive.”

“Yes, Dad.”

Ten feet away, they stopped to put on masks and gloves. Sophia whispered, “I don’t like him.”

“Oh?”

“He’s a cynic.”

Con had to forcibly keep himself from laughing out loud. “And I’m not?”

“You’re different. You give a shit. He doesn’t.”

That made Con pause. “How do you know that?”

“He makes no effort beyond the minimum. He’s got a sarcastic streak that’s the other side of cruel.”

“Whoa, cruel?”

“And he...”

“What?”

“Whenever he looks at me, he looks at my boobs. He doesn’t meet my eyes, like I’m an object to him.” She leaned even closer. “He gives me the creeps.”

“He’s on the job. Sometimes he has to be an asshole. Besides he’s been hanging out with Blairmore for a while now. Maybe it rubbed off.”

She huffed and said, “Fine.”

Con cleared his throat. “I have older sisters, and that’s the second time you’ve saidfine. I know what fine really means.”

“Oh, and what does it mean?” she asked, her tone frankly disbelieving.

“Fucked up, insecure, neurotic, and emotional.”

She stopped walking to stare at him. “Really?”

He shrugged. “Sisters.”

She gave him a lopsided smile. “I kind of like it.” Then she frowned. “But I’m still reserving judgment on your friend.”

“Fair enough.”

Several people held up their hands as the two of them walked through the tent. Sophia didn’t hesitate, choosing someone who was coughing and even had spittle on his face. Con spoke to him in Arabic and translated his responses for Sophia. He said yes to the collection of the mucus on his face, but when her hand closed in on his face he yelled and tried to grab Sophia’s hands. Con restrained him by taking his wrists and holding the sick man’s arms away from Sophia.

After she was finished, she retreated quickly and changed gloves, a move Con copied, then went on to another volunteer. Only she didn’t choose as quickly this time. Many of the sick put their hands up again, sayingI will givein Arabic, but Sophia seemed to be looking for something specific.

She wasn’t finding it.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“That man, he seemed coherent enough to give consent, but then he tried to grab me.”

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