Rafferty took off after Katrin. The cabin was too close, not enough time to make up ground.
She watched Katrin turn to one side, lower her shoulder, and slide across the last few feet of dust like it was ice. Katrin's midsection glowed bright with Blue, and she smashed through the door in an effortless shower of sparks.
She has got to teach me that.
Rafferty skidded to a stop, and stepped into the cabin over the remains of the door. An oil lamp was burning in the corner, and in its dim light she saw Katrin, already busy poking around.
"No one's home," she said to Rafferty without looking back.
"What if it was booby trapped?" Rafferty asked.
Katrin shrugged.
"It wasn't," she said.
"But it could have been," Rafferty pressed.
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"But it wasn't," Katrin said, an overly patient smirk on her face.
When did I turn into Trevor?
The others were catching up now. Rafferty thought Vincent looked impressed as he surveyed the rubble that was the doorway. Nicole's expression was hard to read.
Trevor's was not.
"What if it was booby trapped?" Trevor asked as he entered, his protocol hackles raised to the limit.
Rafferty didn't care for the little chuckle that escaped Katrin's lips.
"It wasn't," Rafferty answered.
"But it could have been," Trevor continued.
"But it wasn't," said Rafferty.
Trevor looked at her, sighed, and gave up. He turned to Vincent.
"So what are we looking for?" Trevor asked.
"Something that isn't here," said Vincent.
"How do you know?" Trevor asked.
"Because he left me a note," said Vincent, holding up a piece of paper.
Nicole had been picking through crates, but now seemed to be puzzling over two windows on the far side of the room. They were smashed, only a few shards still clinging to the frame.
Rafferty considered the oil lamp, still burning in the corner. She hadn't thought much of it when she entered. Katrin seemed to be looking at it now too.
If no one is home, why is it lit?
Vincent cleared his throat, and started to read.
"Dear Vincent, as you may have noticed, you're a bit too late, as usual. If you don't have time to duck, I'll miss you."
"Aw crap," he finished just before a lot of things happened at once.