"So you can see, Madame, Jacqui's Place is no competition for the New House of Joy. Most of your customers couldn't afford us and the few who could ar... already regulars, or aren't interested. How many times has Jason been here in the last two months?" He hasn't been in on his own at all," admitted Martha, "What did you mean about 'excluding Hugo'? Does he patronise you?" No," said Jacqui, "He's been in three times, but doesn't stay. He would be given any of us for free if he wanted. I made that. He had fired bolts deeply into the chests of the two vampiric jumpers when a shout warned him that the feral by the entrance was rising again. Tom scrambled backwards to clear the fields of fire of his fellow policemen. When the feral had again been put down by a hail of bullets, Tom sprinted forward and fired a bolt into its chest from point blank range to make certain that, this time, it would stay dead.Returning to Rudowski and Mia's side, Tom appropriated the officer's radio and called out. I was helping him with his computer at the office." Oh, so you're a computer expert too, on top of all your other talents?" Yeah, I get by. It was pretty easy though - just upgrading his Windows. There were a few things to sort out - like programs that wouldn't run on the new version, and the printer wouldn't work - but it's all good now." So when we have computer trouble I can call on you?" Any excuse to see him more often, I thought with a smile."Sure, any time - but I can't make promises.. "Loud wailing. Sirens."Don't try to move sir." Another voice. A softer, more soothing voice. "Just hang in there. We'll have you out in just a minute."Fingers on my wrist. Soft delicate fingers, yet, strong fingers."Sir. Can you hear me sir?" The soft voice asked.I tried to speak but my mouth was to dry and words could not escape my throat."That's all right sir. Don't try to speak. If you can hear me just blink your eyes."I blinked."This one's ready for the brace." The soft voice said..