I’m standing in Verelich’s office with Jack and Verelich. The desk has been cleared to show a map of the area around the Grand Carp, with the Worcher Mall circled in red. We’d have to move through several buildings, including a Grand Slam restaurant, a clinic, then Apollo’s Dining Hall on the second floor of the same building, and Morperin Office at the far end-all indicated with a green arrow.

“Remind me why we’re not just driving him all the way over?”

“Well, I realize my previous explanation about stretching my clout could be easily circumvented, but I don’t want to risk him getting nailed by an explosive trap or a spike strip, so that’s why we’re taking this on foot.”

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As much as I wanted to complain about the situation, I had to admit Verelich has a point in this case. “Guess there’s no other way. A foot escort would be risky in its own right, but I suppose that’s a risk we can actually control instead of one we can’t.”

“Precisely. Jack, why haven’t you asked her out yet? She seems wonderful! Smart AND pretty!”

“She’s also way out of my range, Verelich-not to mention yours.”

Verelich sighed. “Yeah, I guess you’re right about that much.”

I rolled my eyes at the situation. “Is that all?”

“Yeah, that’s all I had to go over. You can see yourselves out now.”