"Thankyou ," said Pancho. "I always like to make new friends."

"Thankyou ," said Pancho. "I always like to make new friends."

"Good night."

She turned the computer off and scanned the printout with her flashlight. It was a copy of agent Megan

Leary's Bureau file. And at the bottom of it was appended the message that Archimedes had sent along.

"Damn," said Kira softly as she read it.

It was a message from Mona. Archimedes had asked her to keep track of any Bureau of Thaumaturgy

activity relating to Santa Fe, New Mexico. The message told her that in addition to agent Leary, the

Bureau had also dispatched a half a dozen undercover agents to Santa Fe. She had a complete list of

their names, their cover identities, and where they would be staying. Suddenly the lights in the office came

on.

"Find anything interesting?" a woman's voice said.

Startled, Kira looked up to see a slim, attractive blond woman in her thirties standing in the doorway.

Her hair was long and curly, worn in a shaggy, penned mane. She was dressed in a well-tailored gray suit

and a light blue silk blouse, and her face was a match for the photo of B.O.T. agent Megan Leary on the

printout. In one hand, she held Broom, and though Broom had no mouth for her to cover, it was going, "

Mmmpf! Mmmmpf!" And in her other hand, Megan Leary held a gun.

"Shit," said Kira.

They pulled up beside the stolen patrol car. It was empty. Overhead, the sky was beginning to turn gray

with the first light of dawn. Loomis and Paul got out of the car. Suddenly there was a soft chuffing sound

and Loomis felt the angry buzz of a bullet whizzing past his ear.

"Drop the gun or the next one hits your shoulder, Loomis."

They couldn't see where the voice was coming from.

Loomis grimaced and slowly took his gun out of its holster. "You mind if I just lay it down?" he asked.

"These things cost money, you know."

An answering chuckle came from somewhere nearby. "Go ahead. But don't be foolish, Joe. I'm a dead

shot."

Loomis slowly and carefully laid the gun down and then stepped away from it. A moment later Modred

emerged from the shadows, holding his silenced Colt semiautomatic.

"And to think I got you a permit for that thing," said Loomis dryly. "I oughtta have my head examined."

"Don't feel too badly, Joe. I generally carry it concealed without a permit."