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.Miguel nodded. Good.Good.You just eat and you ll be fine, Nikolai promised with a pat on the knee that made Miguel feel vaguelylike the family pet.He glared at Nikolai, but the man had alreadyturned his attention back to Rob. I did something that I hope will help Miguel.But I am alsotrying to help with the missing children.This isn t easy because Ican t&. Nikolai waved a hand toward the room or maybe the universein general.For a man who spoke so many languages, he seemed to runout of words on a fairly regular basis. I am trying to help, he finishedweakly. Then stay the hell out of the investigation. Urban Shaman | 155 Would you? Nikolai demanded. If it were your home thatsome monster had invaded, if it were you that people turned to forprotection, would you just turn away? Rob stood up, and at his full height, he towered over Nikolai. It snot your job.And I don t know what the hell kind of game you replaying, but if you play it again, I m going to make your life a livinghell.Got it? Rob sounded calmer than normal, and somehow thatworried Miguel more than all of his bluster and cursing.Even thoughthe world still wavered a bit at the edges, Miguel got to his feet and puthis hand out to stop Rob from doing anything stupid not that he couldstop Rob if push came to shove.He felt like he was recovering from ahorrible hangover or coming down with the worst case of flu ever. Rob, enough, Miguel said.Rob didn t react at all. Nikolai gotMrs.Williamson to back off& I think.We ll see if she goes throughwith the lawsuit, but at the very least, he did his damnedest to get her toback off, and he deserves a little slack for that. That s what you were up to last night? Rob asked, looking fromone to the other.Nikolai rolled his eyes. I considered asking Miguel over here fora gay orgy, but we ran out of time and I hadn t managed to get over toRite Aid to buy more lube. Smartass, Rob said. I still think you re playing an angle. Because I am, Nikolai offered with a shrug, but that doesn tchange the fact that I want to help you.Do you remember Bobby? Nikolai turned toward Miguel on the last question. Should I? Right now, Miguel was feeling pretty good that heremembered how many states were in the union, so he definitely wasn tgoing to remember one of the many people who seemed to always orbitaround Nikolai. The first day we met, Bobby was on the street. One of those boys? Exactly! What boys? Rob asked suspiciously.Shit.Miguel hadn twritten a report on the incident because he didn t want Rob coming 156 | Lyn Galadown and intimidating the crap out of some kids.Clearly, Rob nowintended to try and intimidate the crap out of Miguel not that it wasgoing to work.Miguel was too sick to intimidate because he alreadyfelt as bad as a human being could without passing out. There were three boys watching when I finished my solointerviews, and Nikolai called them over, Miguel explained. One told me he d seen something& , Nikolai jumped in, andMiguel cringed a fraction of a second before Rob blew up. And you re just now telling us? Fuck.If this is how you help,don t help. Rob s hands were clenched, and he moved forward until hewas nose to chest with Nikolai.Any other man would have stumbledback or flinched or something, but Nikolai just gave an exasperatedsnort at the display of anger. Oy gevalt.I told Miguel that he d seen something. And I couldn t get him to open up, Miguel hurried to explain.As far as he knew, Rob had never actually hit a witness or even asuspect, but his body language made it pretty clear that he d like to startwith Nikolai. A few hours in the tank would have loosened him up some, hegrowled, but he kept his eyes on Nikolai. Or made him shut down totally. Finally, Rob looked away from Nikolai and focused on Miguel. Iguess we ll never know now, he said, making it perfectly clear that hewasn t changing his mind on this issue; as far as he was concerned,Miguel had fucked up.Miguel shook his head.No wonder he keptgetting pressed into the role of peacekeeper around Rob.Asquestionable as his own personal skills were, he was a diplomatic godcompared to Rob.Nikolai gave an elaborate eye roll that probablywould have gotten him pounded if Rob had seen it. My interview, my call, Miguel offered without apology. Whatabout Bobby? Nikolai put on a sweet smile the second Rob looked over, whichjust made Rob scowl more. He wouldn t tell me anything other thanhe saw a woman following one of the kids. Urban Shaman | 157 And god forbid you actually give the fucking police the fuckinglead, Rob muttered, but Nikolai ignored him. But this morning, I& Nikolai stopped with a visible cringe. You what? Miguel asked.Nikolai didn t answer.For the firsttime, he felt uncomfortable knowing that he d slept here because Godonly knew what had happened while he was passed out fromexhaustion and the flu. Uf.Do not go thinking I m crazy. Too fucking late for that. Miguel glared at Rob, but the man crossed his arms and refused tolook even a little apologetic. I had a spirit quest. Nikolai rushed through the words, whichwas good because Rob looked ready to say something veryuncharitable. For the first time, I ve been able to catch a glimpse ofsome of the spiritual chaos all around
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